A/N: Crossposted from the Sengoku Basara Kinkmeme prompt: "Character Death: Part of a couple via Hisahide Matsunaga, and the survivor's reaction." To be fair, I kind of hate myself for this fic, simply because I love the pairing, and have something big planned, but I can't get started, but I can whip out a angst/badend fic in seconds.

The Uesugi camp was silent as Keiji rode in, the silence almost deafening to the young wanderer, Yumekichi peeking out briefly, before ducking back into his usual spot within Keiji's robes as he rode past the gathered men, even Kanetsugu was silent as he approached the guarded pavilion, the usual banners missing, no standards of war raised this night, an odd chill in the air.

Peering inside, Keiji slowly stepped in, mindful of the man within the center, not wishing to interupt the man's meditation until called for. Uesugi Kenshin seemed firmer, almost rigid, within his meditation, a coldness to his body that disturbed the wandering Maeda vagabond enough to speak. "Kenshin, what's wrong? Why is everyone so quiet, why isn't Kasuga with you?" The entire camp gasped, all at once seeming to recoil from the center as Kenshin's eyes opened, and for the first time in all the years that Keiji personally knew the Wargod of Echigo, he stepped back in fear. Kenshin's eyes were colder then ever, a bitter blue that seemed to summon a cold chill down Keiji's spine, faster and stronger then even the heaviest storm.

Kenshin's swordhand clenched, a chill falling the center of the camp as he forced himself to focus. "She was slain...by Matsunaga Hisahide..." he answered, his voice missing almost all of it's usual softness, as cold as his eyes, as Keiji rose back up, the wanderer instantly insisting she could still be alive, that the man had not killed any of his other hostages before. Kenshin rose, turning towards Keiji, the chill growing even colder as he walked closer "He Sent Me HER HEAD!" he roared, barely holding himself from yelling further, his body rigid as Keiji fell back onto the ground in pure shock, the Wargod shaking his head once more, calming himself. "Maeda Keiji, I asked for you here for one thing, and only one thing. I wish for you to deliver a message to Takeda Shingen. Tell him that if I fall, he is to watch over and protect Echigo and it's people. Afterwards, I wish for you to remain at his side until you hear word of my return, or my death." he asked, turning away from Keiji afterwards, walking out of the encampment.

Keiji sat there for a good twenty minutes as the army moved, packing up before slowly starting to march forward, the vagabond just now noticing the almost weeping, sorrowful look upon each and every soldier. They wept, for both Kasuga, and for their Lord Kenshin, for they knew he would never be able to rest until Matsunaga was dead. Keiji shivered, not from the cold, but from the last glimpse he obtained of Kenshin before the warlord rode off. The love of an honorable war was not upon his face. The warmth, the noble and refined warrior was gone, all that was left was a man hewn from the coldest of ice. The man whom many claimed was the Avatar of Bishamonten had lost his most sacred, most precious of treasures. Keiji finally wept, for the Spear that was to fall upon Japan this time would not be one to bring peace, but not but vengeance and war.