Battle Torn Chapter 14 6/24/2015

[kuro808]

Chapter 1

“Yuito-sama, how’s everything?”

Yuito knew the man’s voice.  He nodded.  Yokoyama Yuito was passionate about the green tea.  He had inherited the farm near his land after a brief battle within the state.  The thick, green puddle was whisked before closing his eyes.  The voice itself was like his father but the octave note had always struck him before turning his head toward the man.

“How do you think it is?”  He asked as the man bobbed his head before exiting from his view.

The farm was prosperous.  He had built the walls around the farm as the servants, many considered unreachables, had picked the leaves.  The strict supervisors brushed through each of them before heading to the roaster, and eventually to Yuito’s eyes.

“I’m not liking the tea’s consistency.”  He muttered to himself as he stood in his bronze clothing that reached the ground and headed to corridor.

His steps, heavy, paced over to the steam-powered machine station.  Yuito glanced down as the group of four were looking over the machine.  He flew down the stairs and approached the men with his fierce stare prompting all four to straighten their backs.

“What’s wrong with the machine?”  He asked with the stare bearing at the group.

“We found dust in the bowl and have been trying to clean it.  The last batch hasn’t been to your standard but we’ve tasted it…”

“Poison?  You’ve must be kidding to taste the tea beforehand without consulting the master.”  Yuito scolded them as the nodded their heads.

“Someone has been adding another set of tea leaves.  We thought it was fine and forwarded to you Yuito-sama.”  One of the men informed him.  “I’m not sure what was added though.”

Yuito knew consistency came before taste.  It was the master’s way.  His anger filled up his body before walking to the roast master.  The eyes glanced up to him.  Yuito saw the fear and gave a faint smile.  “What did you add?”

“A special set of tea leaves from the garden, Yuito-sama.”  He bowed to him.  “It has been known to cure bruises and heal quicker.”

“Why?  Do I need that?”

“Sir, we need to support our soldiers for the war among our peers.”  He stated.

Yuito grabbed the wooden block from beside him and swung his arm outwards.  The roast master flew back into the copper pots, tumbling through his master work.  Yuito knew about the war.  It wasn’t their war to fight.  He had decided to stay neutral for the sake of peaceful times.  The men ran over as the stream of blood dripped from the corner of his lip.  Yuito hated the changes and placed his hand by his waist.  The men dropped the master onto his knees and the last moment was cold steel into his hot body.

“Shall I repeat no involvement?”  Yuito narrowed his eyes.

“Yuito-sama, we are sorry.”  The men harmonized in apologizing.  “We will never disobey you.”

“Take the body out.”  He commanded as he grabbed rag from the floor and wiped the crimson stain upon the sword.

Placing the weapon back into his sheath, he returned to the room with a woman sitting across of bowl.  A smile came across of her face as she bowed to him.  Yuito knew too much to see her in the red kimono.  Her skin tanned as Yuito prepared to dump the bowl onto the wood in front of him.

“Tsk.  Violence?”  She smirked.

“No one understands what’s going to happen if we participate.”  Yuito responded.

“We may get run over or we may fight for the winning team.  However, you decided to stay neutral and the soldiers have been restless with the fighting beyond our walls.”  She informed Yuito.

It was her idea to stay neutral after years of fighting.  Yuito had her selected because of her father.  The wise sage had given his last breath to give his daughter a chance.  Eight years had given the insight to watch the war rage on beyond the walls as they stood between the factions.  Yuito acknowledged that without her help that the calls would have been answered and fulfilled with the destiny of what could have happened.

“Rie-san, I’ve loved your insight.”  Yuito moved his head forward.  “The restless men can’t see their wives because of the isolation.  It’s either fight or die fighting.”

“Tea is our fight.”  Rie retorted.  “I heard the blade cut through the man’s skin from here.”

Yuito grinned.  Nothing got past her.  The advisor always had the inner workings of the castle within their hearts.  Yuito had heard the arguments about a female advisor and struck them down, sword or with words.  The sword was usually the first weapon but Rie had softened him.  Many whispers had confirmed the closeness because of the previous advisor.  If Rie hadn’t been chosen, she would have been sold.  However, Yuito knew she had been thought by her father and used her as the best person to consult.

“He was making a special blend without my permission.  The tea is murky and dirty.”  Yuito explained as Rie nodded to him calmly.

“I agree but we must not kill more people because you hate them.”  Rie consulted as Yuito put his hands into his sleeves.

Tea was what he was passionate for his life.  The calm was because of tea.  The war had been of tea.  It was two sides of his life.  Everything came around tea.  Yuito saw the afternoon sun come into the room and moved the shutters to shield the room before walking over to main entrance and closing the door.

“I only have the second tier one.”  Yuito informed his advisor.

“I hope the premium comes in soon when the next person comes in with an offer.”  Rie smiled.

“Offer?  Aren’t we neutral?”  Yuito laughed.

“For now but Osaka has been on our tails about fighting with them.  They have acquired a technology that we haven’t seen before.”  Rie explained as she held out the folded paper in her hands.

Yuito grabbed it from her hands and glanced over it.  Rie was right about it being new.  Electricity.  The new wonder from the west that had given the Osakans an advantage.  Yuito crinkled his lips as the plea to fight with them had sound promising as the steam from the pot blew out the white smoke.  Gripping the handle, he started the process as Rie watched him roll through the process.  The fine powder was given the green light for selling before the war and sparsely was used within the castle.  Yuito quickly stirred the mixture and handed it over to the advisor.

“What do you think?  It may help us.”  Rie asked with the honest opinion in mind.

“If Osaka wants our help, they have to satisfy our men.  If not, we can live without them.  Women are plentiful here and revolt can be stopped by approval of the Osaka counsel.”  Yuito stated as he followed with three turns before tasting the bitter tea.

“What about the wives?”  Rie asked after taking a sip.

“They don’t have to know.”  Yuito tilted his head.  “We’ll bring them after meeting with the Osaka head.  Do you know who it is?”

“Yamamoto. If I’m not mistaken.”  Rie stated.

Yuito nodded.  Yamamoto seemed to be known to Rie.  Trust seemed to fill his mind as he sipped the tea.  A scream caught their attention as Yuito held out his hand and walked up to the door.  Yuito opened the door to the man with an eye patch and a half smile.

“Welcome!”  The man greeted.  “I have a stowaway in our load.”

“Take her to the dungeon below!  I’ll talk to her.”  Yuito commanded before slamming the door.

“Stowaway?  I think future wife.”  Rie added as he took to his seat.

Rie rarely irked him.  However, the elbowing between them was in good fun as the theme was to consider inviting the Osaka people over, answering their plea.

[kuro808]

Chapter 2

“It has been delivered into Kyoto.”  The woman bowed as his eyes turned with the wooden katana in hand.

“That’s good.  How’s the battles?”  He asked.

“Sayamu-sama… It’s been about the same but we don’t have enough men to cover the ground before they start attacking the castle.”  She quoted back.

Yamamoto Sayamu lowered the sword.  The tip of the blade dug into the tatami.  He didn’t want to strike anyone but the opponent but his allies were slowly dwindling with the extended fighting.  He couldn’t show fear to his people.  The battling had happened for fifty years and even with electricity running through their castle, it was still not enough to help the people.

He remembered his father’s dying words.  He drew the sword up and struck the bamboo dummy before bowing to it as he placed the tattered blade onto the rack and walked up to the woman.

“I feel the information is old.  What else has been happening?”  Sayamu grunted, pulling back his top with her chiseled chest and abs revealed with the sweat glistening off his body.

“The people may revolt if we don’t get an opportunity to win over the population.  Kyoto is our last hope before they go for your head.”  She informed the male in the high-pitch voice.

“Nana… if they do.  We lose.  Make the Kyoto opportunity happen.”  He commanded as she rushed down the hall.

“We’re losing allies because you have two advisors.”  The voice made his head snap back.  “Decide on one of us before we lose the castle to the low lives that we have been keeping as prisoners.”

Sayamu knew the reason.  Nana was trusted as the voice of reason and even in panicking, the decision was made with an even thought.  Sayamu was less inclined with Jonishi Kei.  Kei was aggressive but her battlefield skills earned her the position.  Four years of battles had equate to two teams defeated for the enemy.  Then, the ultimate game changer of guerilla warfare had given them a slight advantage with a ceasefire on the table.

Denied.  The fighting continued until the loss in the west had brought it closer to home with the losses piling up as his father, Tokomu, promoted Kei and the turn had given the opponents a run of three battles in two years with them approaching the borders of their lands.

“If my father hadn’t promoted you, we would be winning but you would be put back into the battlefield, if you wish.”  Sayamu said in a low voice before stomping the other way.

He ran to the water pump and washed his face before turning back to the room.  Sayamu quickly changed back to the traditional gown of black and orange as he began to draft out the plan for Kyoto, with an intention of a sacrifice, the invention of electricity.

The luck was of a Westerner who was about to be persecuted under his father.  He proposed for his life to teach his son the dynamics of electricity.  The translator had pushed the fact that it would benefit their kind with the backwardness of the people.  The daimyo agreed to it as long as Sayamu had control over such mystic powers.

At first, Sayamu had to catch the brief understandings of the currents and simplified ideas of the workings.  His father had given strict policies about that but that was the learning tool he had given his son at times and backed off.  Two years later, Sayamu had built the first circuit of his room and then eventually the whole castle.  His father had grown proud of the son and the westerner had been released only to be slaughtered outside the castle walls.

His accomplishments had given them opportunities to use weaponry with the new technology and old weapons that made them powerful.  However, the problems arise with the lack of follow up and hunting down another person had been a chore but agreed to a share of their crops for information and weapons.  Osaka was the only township with the technology but it was dying quickly with the loss of competitive advantage of the other armies collaborating attacks against them.

Sayamu wrote out the many things they did need, food, water, supplies, and men.  Men to refill their army.  Men to help them out of the hole.  Then, men to work between them.  Writing out the draft, he found the only thing to sacrifice, the westerner to share the technology.  He had the lump in his throat as he wrote it out.  Sayamu feared the bigger loss was the sharing of technology.

“Sayamu~” the tender voice called him as his head peered up.

“Yes?”  He glanced as she stood with a smirk on her face.  “I need to draft this out.”

“Aww… we really need to be together.”  She whined.

“After Miyuki.  After I’m done.”  He said before turning back to the paper.

Sayamu left the thought in his mind before going back to the draft.  It wasn’t Miyuki’s fault for being that way.  There were many theories behind the woman and one was her lustful sense couldn’t be contained with the other thinking she was crazy.  Rumors had flown that she was able to satisfy fifty men although Sayamu wasn’t one of them.  Still, it was known she was probably a pure virgin regardless of what they said.

Being of noble blood, Watanabe Miyuki was given to the Yamamoto family for land.  The land in return had brought them food.  She was educated and sought higher power but she couldn’t pass the test as Nana had and failed again when Kei was brought up to the second position.  The only resolution was to seduce the only male she knew within her age, Sayamu.

He resisted temptation many times before.  She was free to venture around but being caught meant execution.  Miyuki kept everything away but the truth had lingered among the people.  Sayamu wouldn’t be the first.  It was a precaution that had been set by her family.  Miyuki knew but kept the lust alive by swooning everyone before ripping their naughty thoughts away quickly.

“Sayamu-sama!  We need you in the chambers.”  Nana reported as he lowered the brush onto the plate and shuffled to the open room where a man stood next to his guards before they sat in unison.

“What’s your business?”  Sayamu asked as the man’s face turned.

“The south has been winning their battles and diverting north.  We’re not sure of their intentions but they are crossing over by boat and may take the lands in the south soon enough.”  He bowed and reported.

“Kagoshima?  Fukuoka?  Oita?”  He called out the three cities that were in close relations to them.

“They have joined forces but I’m not sure what they are doing but within months they could be closing in on us if we don’t heed their warning.”  He informed Sayamu as he gave a firm nod.

“I want a report in a month.  Take shelter before you return.”  Sayamu instructed as the man bowed to him before leaving the chambers with Nana by his side.

“What are you thinking about?”  She asked in a soft voice.

“We must ask Kyoto quickly.  I have put up a resource that they may need and we may get premium tea in return.”  He stated the intention, keeping the details aside as they walked.

“The resource?  That’s bad.”  She wailed as he swung his arm outwards with the sound of a dull board returning to his ears.

“Nana, we must do whatever to keep our state together.  It is our hope that they’ll agree.  They are neutral with an authority figure like his father.  We hated Kyoto because of their actions in the war and we need to create a relationship.”  Sayamu explained as his eyes turned to the end of the hallway.  “Tell Miyuki to come to the room.”

He sat down and looked over the draft as she came into the room, closing the door behind her.  Her smile was wide as she knelt down and pushed her hair to the side.  Sayamu kept his peace while approaching the relief process slowly through the lust built within him.

[junchan48]

Fine! Its going interesting><
Yuito and Sayamu are the leader and they'll have war><
Yuito just so sadist. And Sayamu always so tsuntsun
Miyuki is flirty as usual~
Is it YuiParu and SayaMilky?
Where is Paruru then?
Is she'll appear in the next chapter?


Thanks for the fic, author-san^^

[kuro808]

Fine! Its going interesting><
Yuito and Sayamu are the leader and they'll have war><
Yuito just so sadist. And Sayamu always so tsuntsun
Miyuki is flirty as usual~
Is it YuiParu and SayaMilky?
Where is Paruru then?
Is she'll appear in the next chapter?


Thanks for the fic, author-san^^

Yes they are leaders although the concept of battle between them hasn't shown, they are trying to make an allegiance to each other.  Yuito wants to stay neutral while Sayamu has two battles on his front.  Yuito is headstrong with conflicts mentally.  Sayamu has a physical conflict that only violence will solve.

The pairings though will be muddled.  Yuito is the type to not show the true intentions although it'll come to a realization soon enough (I'm figuring why people aren't too keen of it, I'm really romancing a time period if you can guess)  The guess is really close but there's many to list but you have to consider that the story will concentrate on how Yuito and Sayamu have to resolve the issues between them.

As for Paruru, she'll appear but no definite answer to her effect on the story.

Chapter 3

“Looks like Osaka are trying to setup a meeting with us.  Sayamu-san is proposing we meet in a neutral location.”  Rie scanned through the letter before folding it up in her hands.  “What do you think about it?”

“We might as well meet in Osaka.”  Yuito sighed. “What other places do we have that won’t hinder them?”

Rie turned to the map and the ocean being near Osaka would be problematic but going toward the battle had its consequences.  Hyogo was the choice in her heart as they could venture off.  Rie pointed westward and Yuito nodded.

“Three days at Hyogo sounds good for us.  Who shall we contact for Hyogo?”  Yuito proposed as Rie shrugged her shoulders.

Kyoto in their hermit nature had little to know about the turnover in Hyogo.  Yuito had to send a person out and looked over the messengers before sending out Kotani to do the deed.  The gates open for his exit and hoped Hyogo was not in flux.  The incoming messenger was in the castle with a meal as Yuito approached the person when her head glanced up at the smug look.

“State the name.”  Yuito grunted.

“Ogasawara Mayu, sir.  Do you have a reply for Yamamoto?”  She asked with a sliver of chicken on the corner of her lip.

“It’ll be sent in three days.  You can go after the meal.”  Yuito pointed his finger as the female stood up.

“Sayamu-sama has only asked to return with a reply…”  She bowed as Rie came from behind.

“We have someone heading to Hyogo to talk to their head for a three-way meeting.”  Rie explained as the messenger’s eyes widened.

“I must go.  Hyogo isn’t safe.  I’m sorry I have to explain when I get your messenger.”  Mayu dropped the bone onto the plate and ran out for the horse.

Yuito hid his face to prevent the advisor knowing his idiocy might have gotten the messenger killed.  Rie walked up and patted him on the shoulder.  Rie had kept her calm demeanor while they returned to the hallway as Yuito turned to the wooden door with a sign.

“When Mayu returns, have her in the chambers.  We’ll have tea.  For now, I have to visit the stowaway.”  Yuito turned his head before pushing open the door.

The damp hallway was filled with water stains with the smell of mold rotting within the area distracted the crucial mistake on his part.  He took heavy steps to get to the next water-soaked door and pushed it into the dimly lit area where one guard had a tray in hand, half filled with food, as he passed by him.  Yuito about faced to the cell with the shoulder-length black hair and rosy cheeks was the first attributes about her he began to notice.

“State your name.”  He asked.

“Shimazaki.”  She replied quickly.

“No first name?”  He pondered.

“There is one but the family name is sufficed for you.”  She replied.

Yuito narrowed his eyes towards her.  The rewarding part was her last name.  She had to be from somewhere.  Yuito threw a grin towards her, watching a reaction seemingly pop out, a stare.  The amusement gathered in his mind.  Rarely had he seen a person wanting to show strength towards him.

“Location?”  Yuito threw out the question as she crossed her arms.

“Sai… Ta… Ma…”  She said in three syllables.

Saitama was distance away from the wars of the west.  She had gone a far way to get to Kyoto.  Yuito had cared for the distance as the guard came back with a pitcher of tepid tap water.  The image was the heat of the water within the steel container.  Yuito had certain things that he liked about people who showed a strong sense of will towards him.  It was the challenge to break them.  Yuito held a firm smile with the thoughts of it.

“Saitama is far from here… Why did you come to Kyoto?”  Yuito asked, hinting the curiosity.

“It was to get away.  Saitama has been cursed by a new challenge.”  The woman stated.  “It doesn’t seem you would be interested in such petty affairs.”

“I’m not but the reason seems to be the townships are slowly crumbling since the Tokugawas have lost control.  Tokyo is not capable of finding someone suitable and the threat of the south seems to bring the worst out of people.”  Yuito muttered as what was giving as “information” from the couriers.  “This new challenge will shape Japan from now on.  Thinking we must fight.”

“Fighting will only cause more problems.  Men only want to fight and never look at the real problem of the people.  Kyoto has been neutral for long enough that the men are curious of the world.  I want to see what their men were leading by and I see you as a calm person with little to fear of the outside unless by the people.”

Shimazaki pierced through the tough skin.  Her frank discussion was exactly what he wanted to do.  The tea farm was prospering.  The men, restless, were benefitting from the time away but it was only time to see where they could go.  Yuito poured the water into the copper cup and handed to the woman.

“Drink up.”  Yuito smirked.  “I’ll give you Paru as a name.”

Yuito watched her turn her head as she sipped on the water.  The fresh water supply was never a problem but the taste was a bit fruity for his taste while she consumed the flavor in one gulp.  Yuito had watched her fragile hands hand him the cup as he gave her back a filled one.  Rie’s words had hit him as a quip but he couldn’t really differentiate the closeness of Rie with the subtle admiration of the prisoner.

“Paru?  Why that name?”  She asked.

“No given name?”  Yuito smiled.  “I can’t keep calling you Shimazaki-chan.”

Her face contorted to the reason.  “Paru is fine.  I won’t oblige.”

“I’ll consider what you’ll be doing in Kyoto, unless you want to have a certain job that may make you sick in general.”  Yuito thought as she shook her head.

“I’ll stay here for now.  It sounds better than the mess of people you have considering as your court.”  Paru quipped as the pitcher was handed back to the guard.

Yuito knew too much about her.  The fiery, frank attitude was a plus but the attractive preference had him compelled to overthink the issue.  He returned to the light quickly as the chamber was now filled with three people as they sat with tea made by Rie in front of them.

“Thank you for doing this.”  Yuito nodded his head, holding the cup in his hand.  “Not bad.”

Yuito knew the pride of his star pupil.  He had thought her out of spite but she was quick to understand the art and perform ritually in his place.  The four had sipped their drinks before lowering them onto the floor as he looked to the three.

“Mayu, thank you for your brave sacrifice.”

“Don’t be formal.”  Mayu swiped her hand.  “Kotani is quite a talker when I got to speak to her.”

Kotani nodded as Rie glanced at the two before turning to Yuito, “anyways Mayu does have something to inform us about.”

“Hyogo is run by the mad leader wanting to take over Osaka.  My best suggestion would have been Nara but the problem there is Sayamu’s interest was from there.” Mayu explained.  “She isn’t the type to have the properties of a noble.”

Yuito had leaned in closer.  He rarely took rumors seriously but the juiciest of them all was something that could change the tide of the battle.  Mayu took a sip of her tea before turning to Yuito.

“The thing is the proposal is to avoid major conflict and insight into Osaka’s plans to win the war.  That is what is known for now but Sayamu isn’t happy about Kyoto.”

“He shouldn’t be concerned about our well-being.  Your resources and ours are dynamically different so I wouldn’t care.”

Mayu nodded as they each had another sip of the tea.  Yuito saw the two stood up as they left the chambers with heavy footsteps with Rie stepping up to the table with the cup in hand.

“The prisoner… Right?”

“Unfortunately… it could happen.”  Yuito tilted his head.

The decision, raw, was still between him and Rie.  Rie had been indifferent from the start.  It stood when he came to the position and hoped it will be decided when Yuito had a thought to wrap his mind around the issue one day.

[bunny_rabbit]

hmm...politics? that's new

so yamamoto has two advisors eh...kei for military and nana for civil

if this will be about how those two leaders settles their issues then a loose coupling would be nice...somehow I can sense leader-advisor(s) romance will be up and of course it won't be complete without any conspiracy and betrayals here and there

and one more thing : please don't drop this midway

[kuro808]

hmm...politics? that's new

so yamamoto has two advisors eh...kei for military and nana for civil

if this will be about how those two leaders settles their issues then a loose coupling would be nice...somehow I can sense leader-advisor(s) romance will be up and of course it won't be complete without any conspiracy and betrayals here and there

and one more thing : please don't drop this midway

The topics to most of my stories because of how much clashing comes to my ideals

I'LL TRY not to no guarantees but yeah  

[kuro808]

Chapter 4

“Nee~ Sayamu.  Wake up.”

The voice rang like a bell as he opened his eyes to the room.  He cursed himself that he wasn’t able to finish the draft for the plan.  The letter had been released as he began to ponder over the acceptance of the powers reuniting as he turned to see the advisor peeking into the room.

“Kinoshita has come to offer us an alliance.”  Nana squealed, seeing Miyuki in her beauty.

“I’ll be there.”  He waved the advisor off as he found the golden patterned gown on the floor.

Placing it over his shoulders, Sayamu glanced at the curled up woman.  Simple women never gave him problems but Miyuki had everything but had been used as bait.  He didn’t really care but to have a woman of her standards fall into his arms seemed unearned and turned to the door. 

The firm steps signaled his entrance as the people parted from the door with a person in a top hat and a face mask, hiding its mouth, had its eyes turn to him.  The mask peeled off showing the feminine qualities of the person as it tipped the hat in welcoming the host.

“It is pleasure to finally meet you in person at your castle.”  The quality of the voice humbled him but there was the curl of his lips.

“Close the doors.  Nana and Kei, please stay for the meeting.”  He commanded as the two sat below him as the woman with the short hair and a clip hanging from the lobes of her ears had stood and bent her body in half to the three.

“We are willing to help you win your war against the south.”  She started, rubbing her chin before turning to the shiny jewelry on the earlobe.  “Kyoto seemed to jip us on a meeting place.”

“Okay… We don’t trust you either.”  Sayamu responded.  “Kyoto has its reasons but we are desperate for men or in your case the enraged few who hate the Japanese culture.”

She scoffed at the words.  Sayamu knew too well about the region and Hyogo run by Kinoshita was a tyrant in the eyes of the rest of the members.  Hyogo had been overthrown when the weak-willed leader had let Kinoshita Momoka, a niece of his, to run the area into the ground and the revolution of reforming the place into pirates.  The surrounding area had been on alert of the change with mercy killings of the messengers.  It was untouchable but allowing people to come onto the grounds was outlawed unless the return of resources was guaranteed for protection.

Kinoshita had agreed that they would only protect the interest of their town and not overrun their territory.  Sayamu glared at the woman as she sat cross-legged picking her nose with the pinky, flicking to the side with the three pairs of eyes staring back at her.

“The offering is we can help you but you have to protect us from the foreigners, stamping from Okinawa.”  Kinoshita proposed.

“Letting you guys roam is hard to accept so the best thing is to let you guys take the battles you are faced with and we’ll leave with ours.”  Sayamu said sternly with the lips thinning out.

“It has been a pleasure.”  She tipped her hat before walking to the door.

Sayamu noticed the woman reaching into the pocket and jumped forward.  Kei reacted after as the blast had popped over her ears.  He hit the floor first as Kei jumped and tackled the woman through the screen door.  Two guards came to the scene to carry the woman away.  Sayamu felt the tatami under his hands as his turned to his left.  He closed it briefly before pouncing up to his feet.  Two more had come into the room as they saw the scene and ran out to seek the nurse visiting from Tokyo.

“What happened?”  Nana asked, pressing her hand over the opposite shoulder.

“The air shot caught you in the shoulder.”  He explained as the crimson liquid painted his hand.  “The nurse should be here soon.”

“I feel comfortable in your arms.”  Nana smiled.  “Yet… why do you sleep with her?”

Sayamu had thrown his attention back to her with the blank look.  “What do you mean?”

“Miyuki.  It isn’t a secret that you had a liking towards her since she came here.  You know…”

“It isn’t time to talk about this.”  He scolded her.  “Nurse please take care of her.”

He handed Nana over to the nurse as she looked over the advisor.  Sayamu saw the stains on the golden clothing as Kei ran back to the hallway.  Her body keeled over with her hair frazzled as her breathing was heavy before wiping the streak on her hand.

“Sayamu-sama, I had to do it.”  She informed him, giving a deep bow to male.

“Hyogo is only going to send their soldiers while we are fighting the enemy.  The body was disposed of?”

She nodded.  Kei glanced inside with the nurse hovering over the body.  The idea was novel but it backfired as it was meant for Sayamu.  Kei tilted her head to the side as she felt the firm hand upon the shoulder.  It was the end.  She was ready for the responsibility but her calling was the battlefield, not the castle.

“We’ll get Mayu back and you call everyone for a full retreat.”  He commanded as the guards led him down to the stable for the black horse.

Sayamu whipped his arms down with the horse kicking back before galloping out into the field.  The time of day had given him a chance to stay in Kyoto as he glanced out west.  The panic had set in that he had to trust Kei and hope for no bad news.  He kept the horse going despite its neighs to stop and pulled up to the river with the sweat dripping down from his brow.

He placed the reigns down and dove to his knees, splashing water onto his face.  The center of the township had made him consider turning back but seeing two horses coming his way, Sayamu moved his hand to his hip when they approached him.

“I’m Yamamoto Sayamu of Osaka.  I need an escort to seek the Kyoto court.”  He announced as the two men nodded.

“Yokoyama Yuito is our leader.  We’ll lend you an escort up to the gate but we have to warn you that he doesn’t like visitors.”  The guard warned as Sayamu nodded before jumping onto his horse and followed them to the castle in the distance.

The bearing sun had tolled on his and the horse’s body as they strode through the tall grass with the guards, galloping through the vast expansion before pointing toward the castle.  Sayamu tilted his head forward as they continued onto the castle with the guards taking the forefront for the gate.  It opened to the ocean of green as the guard pointed to the ground.

“Sayamu-sama!”

The sun, blocked by the high wall, found a shadow coming toward him and grabbed his body.  Two others followed her out as they bowed their head to the Osaka leader.

“Yamamoto-san, it is nice to meet you.”  Yuito bowed.  “This is Kitahara Rie, my advisor.”

“I have bad news and the fact is, are you willing to move your troops out within the next morning?”  Sayamu labored out the question.  “Kinoshita was killed by my advisor.”

Yuito contorted his expression.  Mayu had saved her messenger and now the head of the snake was sliced off.  Yuito glanced over at the slouched men and looked at the ground.

“Everyone!  I’m sorry but… Sayamu needs our help.”  Yuito stressed his voice as the men leapt up and lined up in front of the two leaders.  “Whatever else is needed, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Sorry for this but the proximity will lead us into a war on two fronts.”  Sayamu explained as he felt the grip of the other leader.

“Tell Kotani to head to Nara.”  Yuito called as Sayamu held onto the shoulder.

“Go to Shiga.  The army there will be better than Nara.”  Sayamu instructed as the army followed the leader to the back as he escorted the leader to the castle for lodging.

[mitsuhara_itsuko]

wow .. this is really interesting o.o ... can't wait for the next update

[teru_fi]

This blows my head off, it is friggin interesting. Why Kinoshita had to died? Not that I'm complaining but it was kinda cruel..

Relax people, don't ask too many questions. You can't expect everything will be explained in the first few chapters LOL

[bunny_rabbit]

so kinoshita missed her shot...such a crazy leader she is, it seems her policy is "either you are with us or against us" and don't take no as an answer

take the bullet and confess...way to go nana, way to go

[kuro808]

wow .. this is really interesting o.o ... can't wait for the next update

thnx it has been an interesting writing experiment

This blows my head off, it is friggin interesting. Why Kinoshita had to died? Not that I'm complaining but it was kinda cruel..

Relax people, don't ask too many questions. You can't expect everything will be explained in the first few chapters LOL

Well in the panic you do have Jonishi as a conflict advisor so first thing is the sword while Nana is on the ground.

I think many expect something to happen but the conflict hasn't really approached the peak yet.  These little things seemingly will bring the story together and also I haven't announced a true pairing as of yet but if you look at it overall...

YuiRie?
YuiParu?
SayaMilky?
SayaNana?

Those four are going to be the main drivers and TBH this is only an ARC (that's a true spoiler)

so kinoshita missed her shot...such a crazy leader she is, it seems her policy is "either you are with us or against us" and don't take no as an answer

take the bullet and confess...way to go nana, way to go

a bit of dramatic comedy but somehow it'll come to fruition with this chapter being the one to break open the battling sequences that will come on later

It was expected of Kinoshita to have that role, now there's a reason to attack Osaka for a martyr 

Chapter 5

“Ah Sayamu… would you like some tea?”  Yuito asked as they traveled down the corridor with Rie following behind them.

“I’ve heard of your tea.”  Sayamu smirked.  “One of the best quality in the region.”

“The best.”  Yuito scoffed.  “Acquiring tea fields has been my business since we’ve been taking over the area to gain our domain.  Many of the leaders have passed on and we’ve been having trouble keeping everyone happy.”

His words forced a smile upon the other leader’s face.  Rie escorted the two into the tea room as she lit the fire to start on the process.  She knew Yuito’s bitter temperament and seeing Sayamu sticking out his chest, it was a battle of supremacy of two headstrong men.  Rie walked over to the small faucet and let the water drip into the pot.

“Sayamu, you have a wife?”  Rie broke the stare between the two as he tilted his head.

“None but I’m not looking for a mate per say but I have few lined up.”  He explained as Yuito turned his head away.

“Same here.  It isn’t easy because many aren’t of quality.”  Yuito boasted as Rie’s eyes caught him with a wide smile.

Rie carried the pot back to the fire and placed upon the copper s-hook, lowering it toward the flame before taking her seat within a body’s length away from the leader.  The two nodded to her as a thanks for setting up the pot and turned back to each other.

“Anyways, who leads your army?”  Yuito questioned.

“The commander used to be Jonishi but we sent it to Yoshida as a gift of service but Jonishi as headed the conflict side since my father had chosen her.”  He explained as Rie nodded.

“You have a lot of trust in your commanders.”  Rie added.

“She is the best we have.  It was a shame to take her off the battlefield but the problem has been the concern of the people from the south.  Kyushu has been a thorn in our sides since the sea battles with them.  They are neutral as they said but we’ve heard many casualties from their battles with our enemies and our men.” 

Sayamu felt his throat closed up after saying his peace.  He rarely showed it to the advisors but the desperation had finally shown the stress he had acquired.  Rie gripped the handle and Yuito started the tea procedures with Sayamu wiping his eyes.

“I sense the troubles and we are willing to help you but the catch is really the battle of the area has to quell to sustain the land.”  Yuito stated as Sayamu quickly nodded.

“It is understood.”

Yuito had usually accepted verbal commitments but in other cases, he had to consider the written plea.  It was bothersome to do but Rie was better at drafting them out.  Yuito turned to the cups and poured out the special blend that he had crafted and made it for the three of them as Rie saw Sayamu stand up.

“I feel rather dirty.  Do you have a bath?”  He asked as Rie pointed him to the door.

She followed him out, closing the door behind him as they head down the corridor.  Sayamu had his moments but feeling locked up had made him worried and turned to the advisor.

“You would be suited for his wife…”  He smiled as Rie turned her head.

“We’ve been together since we were children but he being a bit shy had made me think about it but it will be up to him.”  Rie laughed.  “You seem hesitant about women.  Deciding?”

“I haven’t told anyone the story but the woman I want to be with is in Osaka.  It isn’t right that I’d be here but something tells me that between the two, the one who has the most potential will be my wife.  However, one wasn’t actually traded but was used as a leverage tool.  I have to be with her because of the situation.  I want her to know that Nara is actually barren.”

Rie pointed to the bath as he disrobed in front of her.  Her eyes turned to his back, structured in a perfect V shape before entering into the partition with the well and the bucket.

“Why haven’t you told her that?”  Rie wondered.

“She’ll be crushed that she is only a slave to me rather than a potential wife.  Nana is wise but sometimes is hesitant with decisions.  In addition, I haven’t told her the truth about the results either.”  Sayamu splashed water onto himself before heading for the bath.

“Which is?”

“Miyuki should be my advisor rather than Nana but saying that will mean my father being wrong.  His advisors skewed it to show Nana as the best of the group but in which Miyuki had more knowledge than her on ideals.”

Rie sighed.  She knew women were never treated fairly but Yuito had made it a purpose to not disallow a thought that came from women.  She had imagined how much Miyuki would be crushed by the results but the effects seemed to make her curious and walked up to the partition.

“Miyuki… how is she like?”  Rie questioned about the woman.

“Honestly, the best part about her is that she acts well around the castle.”  He sighed.  “She has a beautiful body that people can lust over but the thing is she is committed to be with me regardless.  Jonishi had killed a few by my command but in most part, she is the eyes and ears of the operation.  Nana is my brain and Jonishi is the strength.  It seems different but somehow I have little stress when I’m with them but now it is all I’m thinking about.”

Sayamu began to think of the words.  Miyuki, by in part, was rectified as a leader.  Nara had been the kingdom but the fall of the area had come of poor judgment and led to Osaka taking over the region.  Miyuki had told him all the stories of her childhood and then the day when she was “traded.”

The images made him sick to his stomach.  His father, once proud in his eyes, was now the villain but his death had moved the dark cloud away from Osaka but with three people he respected, the one he would have chosen was the one he couldn’t feel the best with.  The day had ruined her life and was the story of the naked virgin which the people had rumored about.  The virginity secret was known but Sayamu couldn’t bear the day they figured it out.

“When did you know about it?”  Rie asked.

“Last night.  She had entered my room while she cuddled up to me and then told me about what had happened.”  He started.  “There were few things that she had said that brought a questionable thought to my head but the truth was the scar.”

“That seems… brutal.”  Rie commented.

“Barbaric but the purpose was seemingly she had gotten into the records and found all the paper work of the cover up.  Miyuki had a better score but the fake test was in front of the real one with a journal of how my father took over Nara.”

“That seems perfect for anyone but now…”  Rie thought.

“The tea is ready.”  Yuito chimed in.

“You have to listen to this.”  Rie smiled as Sayamu wiped up and grabbed a light amber coat.

Sayamu swiftly got through the background of the story to get to how the father had duped Nara and took over the land through a disgraced daughter.  Yuito gave a faint smile before looking at the guards at the door.

“Get Abe and tell her to set up a small troupe to Nara.  Sayamu, let’s do some planning to win the land back for her.”  Yuito grinned as Rie nodded with Sayamu.

[bunny_rabbit]

damn right, hyogo now has the reason to take a revenge on osaka....but who'll take the lead? don't tell me it's a certain wide-shouldered guy because that won't works well if the daugther from yoshida is involved

and seriously now...planning on taking back the barren nara while they still have another important thing to do?!

pairing twist(s) : yuito ended with the daugther of kotani while sayamu with a certain princess from owari OR both leaders ended being together--yaoi version of YokoYamamoto

[teru_fi]

Update! Update! Update!

[kuro808]

damn right, hyogo now has the reason to take a revenge on osaka....but who'll take the lead? don't tell me it's a certain wide-shouldered guy because that won't works well if the daugther from yoshida is involved

and seriously now...planning on taking back the barren nara while they still have another important thing to do?!

pairing twist(s) : yuito ended with the daugther of kotani while sayamu with a certain princess from owari OR both leaders ended being together--yaoi version of YokoYamamoto

Right now Hyogo would probably be marching right over to attack while the Osaka army is retreating back.  Seemingly the Nara adventure with Shiga coming to front seems to help them with the oncoming attack going to Osaka.

The pairings will solidify sooner or later but that isn't as important with the battling

Update! Update! Update!

Surely I will

Chapter 6

“The shard is out from her arm and we have stitched it up.  There is a local anesthesia where it was extracted and maybe after a few days, we can say if it will be a full recovery.”

The nurse’s explanation was firm and Kei nodded as she was in the bed with the bandage heavily wrapped around the wound.  She walked into the room with the cold chill running down her arm as she approached the bed, seeing the blinking eyes of Nana turning to her.

“Sayamu… I love him.”  She muttered.

“I know… It sucks that he is forced to be with Miyuki but you should be his wife.”  Kei gripped her hand.

“I don’t deserve to be so… Unfortunately the truth of the matter is… his father was against me being suitable mate and rather have him with the whore.”  Nana forced a smile.  “It seems right.”

“You cannot say that.”  Kei pleaded, squeezing her hand.  “I heard what you were going to say but Sayamu knows the truth unfortunately.”

Her eyes shot open.  The adrenaline within her body had kicked as she sat up before the rush of blood forced her back to the lounged position.  Nana had a thought about what had happened when she was given the advisor spot from his father for his son.  The crush was more than anything else, a love affair of two close friends.  Sayamu had looked out for Nana and being the male, it was his duty to protect her from danger, despite being petty.

“The fact that…”

“Miyuki actually should have been elected.”  Kei finished the sentence as Nana turned her body away from Kei before turning back wincing in pain.

“Why?  Why did he pick me?”  Nana asked into the air.

“To avoid the plan and hearing from last night, I hadn’t thought it was true but it was me to destroy the town when I was a footsoldier.  It was how I got to own the commands of the fleet before being elected to advise him on the ongoing war.”  Kei explained, crossing her arms.  “This war is going on too long.”

“What proof did you have?”  Nana tilted her head as she turned to her back.

“They slept and I sneaked into the room to find the documents.  Everything was signed by his uncle.  The approval was to take out Nara for Osaka to win Kyoto.  It couldn’t happen because Sayamu’s father passed on.  The uncle had stepped into the chair before the council could elect Sayamu.  He was kicked out not too long after and disposed of when the truth came to them.  Sayamu would have no idea that this had ever happened.”

Kei’s words were like arrows to Nana.  The pain seemed to grow from the freshly sown wound.  What was she expected to be?  The thoughts came like raging river before feeling the strength of Kei’s hand again.  She wanted to lash out at somebody but the only person was not the one she wanted to do attack.

“We are fighting an empty war?”  Nana pondered.

“Kei!  The report from the field is a full retreat and the southerners have crossed into Wakayama.  We don’t know what is happening but it was a command from Sayamu to move back.”  The woman reported.

“That’s fine.  Prepare a defense for our walls.  Hyogo is coming for us in the coming days.”

“Hyogo?”  Nana breathed.

“The attacker was killed by my sword.  Beheaded and wrapped to send to Hyogo by messenger.  It will only be dropped off by the wall and if caught, he will be the causality of the start of the next battle.”  Kei informed Nana as she nodded.

“I feel faint at the moment with information surge.”  Nana stroked the advisor’s hand.  “I’ll take my rest.”

Kei nodded as she released the hand.  Her mind had turned to the peaceful woman.  Nana had never been with the soldiers but with Kei coming into the position, she had taken the initiative to state out the rules.  Kei being raw from battle had to develop a diplomacy stance that never seemed to work at any point but Nana stuck with it until she had a slightly neutral stance on everything.

Kei wiped her eyes as she strutted out to her quarters and looked out to the south.  The dark clouds were creeping in as she closed her eyes and rested her body upon the floor.  The scheme had enraged her because Nana was a great mentor but something hadn’t made her click.  Her decision-making was under par compared to hers on the battlefield but it was never set for them.  Kei didn’t understand the jumbling but the sound awoke her as she moved her knees, placing her hand on the grip of her sword.

“You should knock or address yourself first.”  Kei warned, moving her hand back to her side.

“I guess treating me special is now the new thing, right?”  Miyuki narrowed her eyes to the advisor.  “You read everything and now you see me differently?”

“I would assume so but you’re not dirt nor a whore nor of actual nobility.”  Kei stated.  “You were fallen because of Sayamu’s father and now considering of everything… what’s the plan?”

Kei saw the frustration.  She pointed to the closet for a thin coat to cover her distressed body before Kei closed the door.  The moment was now Kei to control the castle but wasn’t in the right mind set to make decisions.  She couldn’t think of the right person to consider until turning to Miyuki as she grabbed a padding to sit.

“The thing is… Sayamu wants to make right for his father.  He has a good heart but you have to understand…”  Kei paused as the hand of Miyuki came up.

“I trust him.  I don’t want him to make right and restore me.  He isn’t going to change anything that has happened but I can’t be his wife.”  Miyuki explained as Kei’s lips crinkled.

“That is also another concern…  What had happened was never my understanding and I’m truly sorry for everything.”  Kei bowed to Miyuki when a hand came upon the advisor’s back.

“Nana shall be the wife.”  Miyuki proposed.  “I should be dead by now after everything but Sayamu deserved to know.  You were a pawn.  Nana was a pawn.  Everyone had been a pawn of the father.  The truth had to come out but it can’t be made right.  What happened, happened.”

Kei felt her heart wringed of the emotion.  It was wrong but Miyuki was correct about the events.  It was time to move on and get on with the business at hand.  She raised her head and turned to the window.  The dark, overcast seemed to make a shadow over the vast land.  The brief breeze that did blow was wisps of the oncoming problems with the retreat.

“I overheard the southerners have crossed into Wakayama.  They can be our allies if they move toward Hyogo quickly to stop the advancement of the men.”  Miyuki stated as Kei turned her eyes back to the woman.

“What makes you think they will align with us?”  Kei asked as a smile came to Miyuki’s face.

“The commander is Nara’s ally when we had the issues with Osaka.  Their leaders have been fighting for us before the strange retreat order came before the Osaka advance.  She had sent a spy to live with me but she also has come with information of the pending attacks.”  Miyuki slanted her eyes toward Kei as the advisor leaned in.

“The name is Sashihara.  The spy was caught on Osaka grounds about a year ago was a Russian immigrant from Yamaguchi.  She has been in the quarters nibbling on whatever bits I bring back to her but the information is that the head has invaded from the other end rather than through the sea.”

Kei blinked twice.  Osaka was given information that made no sense.  It was becoming the impending block cloud rolling in as the only question seemed to pop into her mind at the time.

“Can we trust them?”  Kei breathed as she turned to the side.

“I do.”  Miyuki grinned.  “They may hate Osaka but they know I’m here.”

Kei could feel the wrath of the island nation going against them.  The war front was coming toward the township and being the head for the moment, Kei had everyone go into common area to let the soldiers enter the gates with the few days pending for their arrival.

[teru_fi]

I hope you won't let this fic 'hanging' in a hiatus.
It is brilliant. Now excuse me, gotta get Total War Shogun for my PC

[kuro808]

I hope you won't let this fic 'hanging' in a hiatus.
It is brilliant. Now excuse me, gotta get Total War Shogun for my PC

Again I'll try not to but I also work on other things too so if it happens it happens for a good reason

Chapter 7

The three awoke to the sound of pounding of the door.  Yuito stumbled to his feet as he reached out to see Mayu and Kotani with their hands on their chest.  “This is urgent from Osaka via Shiga.”

Yuito scanned through the letter, mumbling out the words as the two arose from the floor, watching the leader’s every lip movement.  His head turned upwards before closing his eyes.  The fear felt like smoke from the burning building as Yuito handed the letter back to them.

“What is it?”  Rie questioned.

“Shiga is moving in but the report from Osaka is the southerners have approached land in Wakayama.  Sayamu, what do you think?”  He explained, turning his attention to Sayamu.

“They have been questionable at best.  Did they mention the leader?”  Sayamu remembered the times they have been allies but mostly neutral against attacks.

“Sashihara.”

Sayamu forced a curl in his lips.  He knew Sashihara well to consider how much Osaka was going to be in trouble with the rest of the regions.  He had always kept it a secret among everyone that he was taught by Sashihara’s father of sea warfare but Sashihara, himself, was never a great commander at sea.  However, Sayamu had the thought of the Hyogo front and turned to the two.

“What about Hyogo?  What have you heard?”  Sayamu asked the messengers.

“Nothing at the moment.  Yoshida probably has them leading to Osaka where the armies can converge.”  Mayu explained with the strategically correct answer.

“You can go back.”  Yuito pointed at the two before closing the door.

“Timing is everything and if Yoshida gets the message, the armies can combine and take down the Hyogo army easily.  However, Sashihara is someone we have to be cautious about.”  Sayamu elaborated on the perfect plan with Shiga moving in and Osaka being placed upon the highest of priorities.

“Sashihara… he must be an interesting character.”  Rie tilted her head.

“Sashihara Rin, the toughest of all of Kyushu with other co-commanders that were before him. He was placed as the runt of the three-headed monster of Kyushu when they aligned with each other.  The best of the sea have come from that region and when the foreigners tried to invade, they had joined up and finished them before touching land in the region.”  Sayamu smiled while explaining a man like a legend.

“However, Rin isn’t the biggest of the threats.”

“Who is?”  Yuito rubbed his chin.

“A fellow named Kashiwagi, if I remembered correctly.”  Sayamu thought.  “The problem is his alignment is beyond questionable.”

“What is the best plan of action?”  Rie interjected.

“Yuito head into Osaka to check on everyone, especially Nana.  Tell Kei that Shiga is coming to protect us.  Rie you have to come with me to Nara and probably head to Wakayama after that.  Sashihara won’t be moving into position unless they have a reason to fight.”  Sayamu commanded as he knew the avoidance of any conflict came down to that.

“Yuito-sama!  Yuito-sama!”  The voice wailed as the leader opened the door.  “The prisoner escaped.”

Yuito rolled his eyes.  He walked out of the room and headed down the corridor to the area where one guard was on the floor with a gash of the size of a pebble and seeing the wet footsteps heading to the tea production location.  The smell was faint but the steps lead to the floor where the scent of burnt tea had entered into his nose.

“Paru… where are you?”  Yuito mumbled as the light had caught his eye.

“Ah so… I wanted tea.  The guard wouldn’t allow me some tea so I pulled him into the cell before dragging him out of the place.”  The prisoner smiled.  “I like a roasted tea.  It is bit more bitter but the mix with a fresh tea can be balanced out, or whatever mumble jumble tea experts have said back in Saitama.”

Yuito bit on his tongue as the woman had a mesh over the open flame, letting the dancing embers touch the pure green leaves.  The bitterness was a concern for him but once Paru had the leaves, she placed them to the side before putting a pot over the flame, turning to the cooling leaves.  It was somewhat unusual to watch someone prepare tea from the leaves that were discarded as he saw the bin next to her.  Yuito nodded as the makeshift tea was done once the water puffed out steam.

“Was this the only reason to escape?  You could have run away from here.”  Yuito grinned.

“Well… I thought about it but the mention of battles toward the other direction made me consider staying here until we find a way to win.”  Paru explained while sipping on the tea.  “You don’t leave impressions on people but I find you interesting when it comes to strategy.”

“What do you think about that?”  Yuito asked.

“The government in Tokyo has amassed everyone while here we have battling states.  The interest is really how it’ll be resolved.  Tokyo just agreed to not attack while everyone just went with it but the trade has been well off on both ends that we don’t have to fight but between everyone, it seems the trade has been non-existent.”  Paru blabbered as the tea ran out from her bowl and filled it up with the water.

“The history has always been battling but we don’t like Tokyo because of the feudal period but we are accustomed to the wars compared to the peace within the central and northern parts of the island.”  Yuito calmly explained.  “I only have a question.”

“What is it?”  Her ears perked up.

“What do you plan to do here?  You have intention to neither head back nor head south so why stay here and be a prisoner?”

“Simply because I need to find shelter somewhere.”  Paru stated.

Yuito nodded at the answer.  It wasn’t the greatest situation to allow a prisoner to roam but the idea wasn’t a bad one as the head of the tea makers was killed by his sword.  However, he had to show his ability to govern over such delinquents.  “Would you mind working the fields?  You can stay in the quarters for the workers and when you need something just attend to me.”

“Hmm… I don’t mind the working the fields but I’m not going to be coming here often.”  Paru pondered.  “I’ll ask you one favor though.”

“What is that?”  Yuito narrowed his eyes.

“Can I toy with a plant?  I want to see if I can cross breed a plant.  It has always interest me.”  Paru curled the corner of her lips.

“Sure.”

Yuito left Paru in the room.  It was no threat to leave someone in there but since she had gotten out and if she did escape, there was little to no reason to even considering her chances to exploit them.  He walked up to the room where the two were talking as Yuito sat on his blanket.

“What did you do with the prisoner?”  Sayamu asked.

“She’s drinking tea and heading back to the quarters sooner or later.”  Yuito smiled.

“I think there was never a threat with her.”  Rie laughed.  “Although the soft spot must be because she’s cute.”

Yuito knew the elbowing would come eventually.  Rie had always done it out of spite for her sake.  He was accustomed to the variety of girls coming in and out but never had grown interested.  He felt lost in the world of tea and leadership that he never sought anything that would make his heart change its pace.  However, he had sought to search for one on occasions but it would have to be through his advisor, which seemed heart cringing to start.

“She’s cute but I don’t think too much can go through her without taking a swipe but I’m just tired so I’ll curl up for morning light.”  Yuito announced as the two turned back to each other.

“You should try for it.”  Sayamu muttered.

“One day when I feel ready.”  Rie smiled before they also turned in for daylight.

[bunny_rabbit]

re-read the chapters again and I found how wierd it was for sayamu to be able to talk freely with rie about his personal life

let's face it, in politics, it's a big no to talk about your personal life--at least not to someone that you can deeply trust--because it can be used against you somewhere in the future and seeing how easy sayamu talk about such thing with rie makes me wonder, did something happen with those two in the past? did they had some kind of 'history' back then--one night stand under the alcohol maybe? or rie had put something into sayamu's tea--thinking about veritaserum or/and its kind here--before? or could it be just sayamu's carelessness? or it's just me over thinking about it

the plan sounds good...pulling back the troops to lure hyogo's army in then crush them with the reinforcemet from shiga (?) while sayamu and rie tried to win over the remaining leader(s) of nara to convince the southerner to sided with osaka and help osaka to crush hyogo if the reinforcement from shiga is late/not enough to do the deed (?)

the question is how fast they can execute the plan?

it's quite a distance from kyoto to nara and from shiga to osaka not to mention the time needed for all the talks...and there's also miyuki, it feels like she's planning something behind the shadow, something fishy...just hope sayamu and yuito had a back up plan for the worse

[kuro808]

re-read the chapters again and I found how wierd it was for sayamu to be able to talk freely with rie about his personal life

let's face it, in politics, it's a big no to talk about your personal life--at least not to someone that you can deeply trust--because it can be used against you somewhere in the future and seeing how easy sayamu talk about such thing with rie makes me wonder, did something happen with those two in the past? did they had some kind of 'history' back then--one night stand under the alcohol maybe? or rie had put something into sayamu's tea--thinking about veritaserum or/and its kind here--before? or could it be just sayamu's carelessness? or it's just me over thinking about it

the plan sounds good...pulling back the troops to lure hyogo's army in then crush them with the reinforcemet from shiga (?) while sayamu and rie tried to win over the remaining leader(s) of nara to convince the southerner to sided with osaka and help osaka to crush hyogo if the reinforcement from shiga is late/not enough to do the deed (?)

the question is how fast they can execute the plan?

it's quite a distance from kyoto to nara and from shiga to osaka not to mention the time needed for all the talks...and there's also miyuki, it feels like she's planning something behind the shadow, something fishy...just hope sayamu and yuito had a back up plan for the worse

I have to answer it without a chapter posting 

Anyways Sayamu's weakness is only relative to the fact that the reality of the situation had to be known and rather tell it to anyone else he went to Rie (by all accounts can be neutral party) and since they are going to help Miyuki might as well be forward to why, although the interest really lies upon the scheme of things

Yuito being sent off to Osaka will help Kei and Nana

Sayamu and Rie to Nara is a leader plus a mediator

The next chapter is the interesting part about this battle where it'll come from another POV.  This I feel where the dynamics of timing will only work with a knowledge of history (that's the big hint)

Also Miyuki... Will she be the one to help or harm Osaka with Sayamu in Nara hoping to resolve the issue

[kuro808]

Chapter 8

“This campaign is ridiculous.”  He wailed out into the sky.  “What exactly is the plan?”

“Sashihara has told us to move from our location to head to Hyogo.  It’ll be better for us to travel on neutral ground rather than by sea.”  The advisor informed him as she wiped the sweat from the forehead.

“Miyawaki… we will never listen to her after this.”  He informed the advisor as she flashed a smile.

“Kashiwagi-sama, I’d agree but he took over the domain.”  Miyawaki consulted as the army of two thousand followed behind them before coming to a stop at a small waterway.  “Let’s rest here.”

Kashiwagi Yuki stood under the sun, tanned from the adventure from the small straight between Kyushu and Honshu with the march going through the impartial lands of the south with neutral hospitality.  Yuki, reigning for Kagoshima, was fighting for control before Sashihara and his men blindsided with the western technology.  Bitterly defeated by the self-reloading guns, he had taken advice to move north to take Osaka by force.

Yuki, rarely disagreeing with anyone, had enough of the embarrassment of losing to take on more shame.  He took the small army through the lands, fighting off the wildlife to get to the castles that was willing to take them in with little resistance.  Kashiwagi saw through the mist the castle.

“Is that Hyogo?”  He asked as the advisor turned to the map.

“It could be…”

Miyawaki Sakura had been anointed advisor through Sashihara with the reason of how she felt toward the female.  Intelligence was a family gene but lacking the will to fight, she had been placed in the school but only behind the rest of her peers.  Given the opportunity, it was somewhat new for her to be travelling away from Kagoshima for an unannounced amount of time.

“We passed all these areas to get here… so we must venture quickly.”  Kashiwagi glanced up at the sky as the faint wind blew behind them.

“Take your last sips.  We will head out to the border to camp out.”

Sakura and Yuki were looking forward for battling as the men grew restless being in a marching pace for months on end with the accounts of the other half of the men at sea heading to Wakayama at the same time.  Yuki had wished for sickness within his heart as the visible mist pressed against the men’s skin.  The view was being consumed by the oncoming sheet of fog as Yuki held his hand back to the group.

“Be careful now… The attacks will come soon if they seek us.  Plat ourselves here until the fog dissipates.”  Yuki warned as the men held the guns in their hands as Yuki gripped the handle by his belt.

Despite the loss against Sashihara, Kashiwagi had a good track record and leading a group was never a problem but the feeling of the cool wind blowing through had brought a fear into him.  He took a deep breath as he ventured with heavy, methodical steps into the thick fog.

“Let’s move forward.”  Yuki called out as the fog cleared in front of him.

The distance away had brought him in the view of the castle grounds.  He held up his hand with his knee touching the soft dirt below him.  The rest had ducked with the groups slowly marching out from the castle.  Yuki felt his heart drop into his stomach.  The battle was either starting against them or they were heading out somewhere out from the castle.  The visibility grew difficult with the moving fog and knew being within distance, it would be suitable for camping.

Yuki instructed Sakura to get the men ready for the next day as one came from the group with a gun in hand.  Yuki narrowed his eyes toward her as the long barrel was stuck up into the air.  She lashed a smile giving off the dimples that was charming only to see the bullet in their bodies before they realized it.

“Kashiwagi!  We can attack now to run over their defenses.”  She suggested.

“We will wait.”  He sternly announced as Yuki grabbed the small tent from his backpack and placed on the ground.

It was something that he was against, attacking a weakened fort.  He stood by the standard despite the loss he took in the crucial battle against Sashihara in Fukuoka.  The pill always seemed bigger with the thought of it.  He had retreated and returned with a paper to unite the island under him.  Sashihara would have executed the leader but the battle would have taken a turn if Kashiwagi had followed through and took over Fukuoka thus uniting it under him.

Sashihara had agreed to let him live with a full commitment of orders.  He took the land route for the ease but hadn’t expected the trek to take longer than two months.  His men, restless, were with him as they approached the area and pitched a tent in the growing darkness.  Kashiwagi ducked into the personal tent to feel out the atmosphere as his advisor stood outside peeking inside.

“What’s wrong?”  He asked tilting his head.

“It’s been a while since we all were upbeat about something.”  Sakura smiled.  “The men seem ready for a fight but are we actually prepared for them?  We can send a scout.”

Thinking of her words, it wasn’t a bad idea but the sacrificial lamb has to be willing to take on such responsibilities as another one had peeked inside.

“I can do it.”  She grinned.

“Don’t make too much trouble.  Take your time to analyze the area and come back when you have a good feeling about our chances.  We only have this one time to crush the opponent.”  Kashiwagi elaborated to the female as she dashed off leaving Sakura to take a seat at the mouth of the tent.  “I remembered that you had a friend in Osaka…”

“She is quite annoying but she became a spy to seek out information.  The person in charged has been unresponsive since the time we’ve started to move forward.  Sashihara won’t be fazed by it but she is a friend.”

Sakura’s words were heavy to him.  He had always trusted people, a great strength with a tremendous downfall.  Kashiwagi always had held the soft spot for trust especially knowing that he returned to Kagoshima with a person in mind when he left Tokyo.  He turned back to Sakura noting the stress on her expression as he looked out to see the tent had been set up for the meeting.

“Let’s discuss a plan to take over Hyogo.”  He smiled as Sakura and Kashiwagi went to the large tent with the rectangular wooden table placed out in the middle.

He allowed only a few to enter, Sakura and the woman with long-barreled gun, came in as the guard blocked the entrance.  Kashiwagi glanced at the two as he set up the placement of the castle from their location.  He knew the distance was a bit off but had to assume the scout would come back with some news.  He glanced down before letting out a sigh.

“We saw what was out there.  The plan is to watch for the walls and flank to the gate.”  He announced as the woman nodded.

“Hyogo has been savvy since the takeover so we may have to allow teams to seek the walls and let our shooters take out from the top.”  She suggested.

“Ota… the teams we can’t do with our numbers.  The range hasn’t been proven so we have to allow what we can from where they stand.”  Kashiwagi argued.

“True… we can send a bunch to clean out the middle and let the rest firmly…”

The three had turned to hear guns going off.  Kashiwagi moved Sakura to the side as they saw the flashes from outside.  The brief exchange had brought the rest on guard as the shadows seemed to add to the confusion.  Ota rushed out to seek the relief of the men when the scout had shuffled in.

“They have emptied out the castle.  Osaka has killed their leader and has sent their army in with the rest of the population.  Hyogo moved everyone out as a way to dedicate their support for the army.”  She informed them as the gunfire seemed to continue on in the distance.

“What about the firing of the weapons?”  He asked the scout.

“That I’m not sure of…”

Kashiwagi knew the excitement had drawn the group into chaos as the shadows were running to the castle.  He felt the lump grew bigger as they charged toward the empty castle before a light had lit the sky from the place.  Yuki sat back and watched the spectacle with everyone glancing up at the evening sky.  The building crumbled to the ground under the light as he watched them retreat back as the plan went up as the castle did in front of them.

[kuro808]

Chapter 9

The trio awoke with the sun peering into the room as the scent of the day was the heavy mist blowing by them.  The plan had been in place as the two heading to Nara set out east to the castle while Yuito walked to the heavy doors and opened it to the gold-plated suit with the blade shining with the eastern sun.  The men entered as they lift at the armor over his body with the other two watching as he had gotten suited up.

“You must leave soon before the rains delay our plans.”  Yuito commanded to the two as they nodded.

Rie walked to her room and lifted the chest cover to a green cloth as the brief weight caught her by surprise.  Unwrapping the cloth, it was the dull metal blade that caught her eye.  She rarely had any protection within the castle but being the first trip out of Kyoto.  She had walked over to the alcove and slid out the stone from the compartment.

“I’ll be ready in a bit.”  Rie announced.  “You should prepare your items too.”

Sayamu was blinded by the threats that were around him and not knowing had gave him the fear to only fight.  He strolled to the stable to find the shadow by the horses.  Sayamu placed his hand on his hip as the light revealed the identity of his appearance.  A large scar was visible to him as the right eye was slammed shut but the wound.

“Sayamu-san, I’m just here to tend to the horses.  I’m sorry for scaring you.”  He bowed.

“How do you know my name?”  He asked as the male gave him a smile.

“People are always talking and seeing your appearance has enlightened me.  Tokoshino is the name.  I used to have a farm of animals before the war but Yuito had saved my family with the animals but that was years ago and I only breed horses and chickens in this area.”  He explained as Sayamu moved up to see the arch on his back, struggling to walk in a straight path as the horse took the carrot from his hand.

“Osaka was a thriving place.  People loved to go there but you weren’t the cause of this chaos.  That I know.  Will you make it back to what people used to know it as?”

“I will Tokoshino-san.”  Sayamu knelt down onto a knee.  “My horse looks better already.”

“Thanks, sir.  She is quite a beauty.  Osaka has made her strong.”

“It has.  We will leave soon.  Rie and I will be coming here to take the horses out to Nara.”  Sayamu announced before hearing the clanging from above and ran to see Yuito in the armor strutting down as the man handed him the black steed.

“Rie is coming soon.  Tokoshino take the next person to come down here and hand it to them.”  Yuito presented the packet of papers.  “Tell them send it to Nagoya.”

The man left the two as Rie rushed down to find the horses ready.  Rie and Sayamu mounted their horses first before heading out to the southeast as Yuito mounted with help from the guards and saw a person at the gate bowing to him.  The crimson luster of the Shiga leader shined to Yuito as they trotted toward the battle.

Sayamu led the way through the fields with the heavy mist clouding their sight as Rie trotted behind as the visibility grew difficult before standing in the open, letting the wind blow as Rie pulled the horse to the left with the fog dissipating in front of them.  She began to glance around as the clearness of the fields was openings for any attack.

“I think Nara may have their defenses up so we have to go by carefully.”  Rie warned as they started to go ahead toward the open expansion.

Sayamu poised himself as she rode off before following her to the path to the lake’s edge.  The clear weather had offered a better view of the border as he began to remember the dirt path they left when they took over Nara.  It was being prepared as the violence seemed to be high on the border when they arrived.  Monks were the first to greet them.

“You seem assured of Nara and their protection even after Osaka had destroyed them.”  Sayamu forced a smile as Rie turned back.

“Osaka had run them out but the problem still stands that Kyoto still has trade terms with them.”  Rie informed the leader.  “Mie refused to help unless they had a chance at Osaka so you know where the Mie warriors are at the moment.”

Sayamu felt the lump in his throat grow.  Rie’s information had to be outdated if Mie was still actively pursuing Nara.  They were at odds over their skirmishes that no way Mie would help Nara and vice versa.  Sayamu walked the horse up to the river’s edge and sat along the brook for a handful of water.

“Are you sure?”  He asked.

“I only agreed because you going to Nara by yourself will be a suicide mission.  If you only stopped in Kyoto for a rest stop, they will never see their leader again.  I can only calm the Mie warriors with my diplomacy and the fact that what you told me is correct and not leading you to your death.”

Rie’s words struck him.  The trust of a prisoner was in his heart and the advisor of a rival town was now his protection before slicing his head off and serving it back to Osaka as a blow for them.  Sayamu thought about it and agreed to the situation.  Rie went to her knees and placed her hands together facing the direction of the area to give her prayer.

He followed behind her and repeated her words before climbing upon their horses to cross the river.  Rie pointed over to the small village as Sayamu trailed behind as the distance given would indicate a time to rest on their trip.  Sayamu admired the beauty of the area as the afternoon sun had climbed over them and beamed to their backs.

“Quiet…  Really quiet.”  Rie smiled, turning her head back.  “Thinking?”

“Admiring the beauty of the land I used to just remember walking through with my superiors yelling at me.”  Sayamu sighed.  “Then again, I was the same to my men.”

“Seemingly we will enter into neutral area.”  Rie explained.  “Let’s get ahead of the day.”

Rie swung her arms on the reigns as they sped up to the gate with two guards looking up at them.  Rie jumped off as she bowed to them.  Sayamu sat on his horse with Rie putting her hand up to them.

“He’s with me.  We are guests that want to get to Nara but we can’t make until the next day.  I wish for a night stay.”  Rie explained to the guards.

“We’ll allow you guys to stay but our inn is filled so you must share a room.”  One informed the duo as they reluctantly agreed.

They walked through the village with the people in torn clothing.  They avoid their eyes as they got to the inn and placed their horses on the post before being shown to their room.  It was a small space within the inn as Sayamu entered first, taking a seat by the window before Rie closed the door behind them.  She loosened her robe and threw it onto the ground as Sayamu turned his neck before looking out the window.

“What are you doing?”  He asked as her hands gripped the shoulders.

“We have to play the game…”  She smiled as her black hair guarded her bosom.

“Do you mean?”

“Yes but find a blanket and a wooden block…”  Rie instructed as they set up the scene with the open window.

“I’m not in the mood though…”  Sayamu murmured when she placed the block between her legs and threw the blanket over her body as Sayamu shielded the area.

I’m not either but… just follow through.”  Rie smiled before letting out the moans.

It was all a ploy to set up the scene.  The guards watched them in the act before Rie screamed out as the door opened as Rie keeled onto her knees.

“Gomen ne…”  Rie bowed as the bit of her body was exposed to the man’s eyes.

“It’s no problem… just don’t bother the other guests.”  He smiled as the door closed with the rest spreading out from the scene.

Rie placed her clothing back on as she switched the blade from the coat to the ankle.  Sayamu sat on his knees with his heart beating like a drum.

“It seems fun to play couple.”  Rie snickered.  “We can order a meal in peace now…”

Sayamu brought his breathing back to normal when she called out for the meal as he could only keep the image of her body in his feeble mind.