There's something I've gotta say, buddy. You're not gonna like it. But I wanna say something first, okay?
He had just seen him that afternoon. Just that afternoon…! Masamune crumpled the letter in his hand, his knees weak. Damn him! Damn that foolish man, that… that imbecile…! He whirled around to face the messenger who knelt at his feet. "Who gave you this!?"
Hey, Masamune. You're a good guy, y'know? I've got faith in what you can do. I know you'll be able to defy all the odds against you.
The messenger bowed even more, his forehead touching the ground. "My lord, he gave it to me himself…! I swear…!" The one-eyed warlord stared intently at the letter in his hands. The characters were sloppy, shaky—even sloppier than his usual scrawl.
So hey, buddy, back to what I was saying before. I think this is probably gonna be goodbye, so listen up, alright?
Masamune sensed every bit of horror the words were written with. Nothing like him. Nothing like he would ever write. He was always so cool under pressure. This was much different.
There's some guys here. They're talking about you, about doing some stuff. A rebellion or something, I think. And I can't let anything happen to you. There's a lot of them. Way more than us. By the time you get this, it'll probably be too late. But I've gotta try, y'know? You never know. Maybe I'll get out of this scrap alive and I'll be able to see that world you create!
He was even using hiragana for this. His death letter, written as if it were a letter just catching up between friends. Damn him…! Masamune gritted his teeth, unable to continue. His hands trembled, and he finally dropped to his knees, clutching the messenger's shoulders in his hands, hard enough that the boy winced under his grip. "Don't lie to me, you little…!"
"I-I swear, my lord!"
Masamune furrowed his brow, his pupil shrinking.
"The letter was written by Saika Magoichi…!"
He whirled around again, reading the rest of it over again. It was probably the fifth time he had done it.
Last thing I'm gonna say. I've got faith in you, Masamune. I know you can do whatever you put your mind to. And if you ever lose faith, just know you still got me, no matter where I go. I'll always be with you. Just look real close and you'll see a crow flying across the sky. That's me, showing you I'm still here.
I'll always believe in you.
Damn him. Damn it! Masamune beat his fist against the ground, his rage overflowing into tears. He had swept into his life like a bird in flight, and just as easily, the crow slipped from his grasp. Masamune's chest heaved, and his voice broke as he shooed the messenger from his tent. "Leave me…!" he shouted. Teardrops stained the ink, and it ran down the page just as Masamune read the last lines.
Always,
Magoichi.