What's up, people? After a long hiatus, I'm back with another edition of Legacy. Sorry about the extensive wait...the last days of school really kicked my ass, especially since the year didn't end until June 15. *exasperated sigh* Anyways, I'm finally getting into regular updates, and I'll be jumping back and forth between this one and my Chaos Reigns tale. I've got almost a month of summer left, and I plan to use it!
Last time, the nightmare of Kanegasaki finally came to an end. What are Kizami's plans with the remnants of the Oda? What will happen between him and Oichi now?
Warnings and disclaimers are explained in the prologue.
Text Key:
"speech"
'thought'
"enraged or spiritually empowered speech"
*sound effect*
*loud sound effect*
(author comments)
-{[scene heading]}-
flashbacks & emphasized wording
narration and song lyrics
(Last time, on Legacy...)
"The nightmare ends right here and now...it'll all be okay...Ichi-chan..." Kizami continued, his grasp even tighter and his normal voice completely overshadowed by the other one at the affectionate name.
Oichi was shocked beyond all belief at what he'd said...he sounded...just like...
"Naga...masa...-sama..." she whispered, tears falling from her eyes as Kizami's form was, for a scant moment, shadowed by the man in red and white armor whom she'd finally remembered...
At that instant, her aura disappeared, her eyes returning to normal as fatigue began to claim her. Her eyelids fluttered for a few seconds as she beheld the one who had rescued her from the abyss, before closing as she smiled in blissful happiness...
(And now...intro!)
-{[story intro]}-
play "Naked Arms" by T.M. Revolution (Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes game intro)
*instrumental intro*
(Kizami prepares for battle as the camera zooms in on him tightening his gloves, holstering his sword, and lastly walking outside as the screen is consumed by white)
All those dreams, all of my hope, all life come undone...
(Kizami, atop a white steed, is racing through a grassy field, a smile on his face as the camera circles around him)
In a world, beaten and broken, I can see a rising sun.
(zooming out, the camera reveals the Oda remnants trailing behind him as the sun's rays illuminate their charge; Oichi is mysteriously absent)
Burning down, scorching the earth, nowhere left to hide...
(panning a distance in front of them, the camera shows a different army rushing at them from the opposite direction)
Try to stop all this destruction; find a way, turn the tide.
(a close-up of the second army reveals Masamune and Kojuro leading it, the two forces about to clash with one another)
Reveal the bond that's made, between the light and the shade!
(Kizami and Masamune lock eyes with each other, each smirking as they leap from their horses and draw their respective weaponry; the screen freeze-frames and fades to white just before they clash)
*instrumental bridge*
Sengoku Basara: Legacy of the Dai Rokuten
(various characters briefly appear, in tandem, on-screen behind the title before fading, each of them sporting a smile or smirk: Kizami, Oichi, Katsuie, Masamune, Kojuro, Yukimura, and Sasuke)
Shining white and hot is a moon so unforgiving, the break of day will leave a scar.
(the title card screen shatters like glass, revealing Magoichi amidst a crimson and black landscape with crows flying around as she backflips through the air and fires a single shot at the camera)
Nothing we believe will project us from tomorrow, enjoy today from where we are.
(the screen shifts to a snowy mountain, showing Kasuga leaping from its peak; she twirls through the air and hurls a kunai at the screen as it is enveloped by ice)
I will believe to the end, even with my face pressed to the fire,
(the screen switches back to Kizami, sword in his right hand and solemnly looking over a cliffside as the sun sets)
I won't be shaken or moved by the heat getting closer and higher...
(Oichi walks into view from behind him and embraces him from his left side with a wistful smile; Kizami smiles as well, holding her with his free arm)
Sink or swim, lose or win, hold on with my naked arms!
(the smiles fade as they peer downwards, seeing a large army headed by Yukimura and Sasuke at the base of the cliff; Oichi reluctantly lets go of Kizami as he prepares to fight)
I see my infinite dreams coming to an end,
(Kizami leaps from the cliff, gliding downwards straight towards Yukimura, who responds in kind by launching himself upwards towards Kizami)
Sparks are flying, but my spirit will not break or even bend.
(the two lock weapons, attacking back and forth as they fall back to the ground; they push apart from each other just before reaching ground level)
Now I see my destiny only brings me pain,
(Kizami turns to his right and blocks a sudden attack by lightning-covered blades, revealing a smirking Masamune)
Now the sunshine and the shade are forced together again.
(still locked with Masamune, Kizami shifts his weapon and blocks a second assault from fire-charged spears, held by a yelling Yukimura)
I choose to follow the light, flowing through me here tonight!
(Kizami's eyes narrow as a blackened aura emerges from him and he pushes Masamune and Yukimura away; the two immediately charge Kizami once again as he readies himself)
*instrumental outro*
(the screen freeze-frames just as the three are about to clash, their mouths open in respective shouts)
-{[intro end]}-
-{[Kanegasaki; castle outskirts]}-
(play "Welcome Back" - Warriors Orochi 3)
"Finally...this nightmare is over." Kizami said with a relaxant sigh, still holding a sleeping Oichi in his arms as he watched the sun rise over the mountains.
"Kizami-sama." Katsuie voiced, the addressed young man turning towards him.
"What is it, Katsuie-san?" Kizami asked.
"I am correct in assuming that you will take command of our forces here?" Katsuie inquired, Kizami nodding in confirmation. "Then as our leader, what do you believe our next course of action should be?" Katsuie continued, Kizami taking a scant moment before answering.
"That is a question which won't be so easily answered. There are several possible choices to go by. But we'll talk about this within the castle. As of now, we're all still very tense, and there's no need for us to be in full battle form for right now, no?" Kizami enumerated, Katsuie nodding as he and the rest of the Oda remnants marched back to their home base.
Kizami didn't follow them for a few moments., his mind ablaze with thoughts of the future.
'This is just the beginning...now that the die has been cast, the land shall fall into yet another whirlwind of chaos and conflict...Katsuie definitely raised a good question; what should be done next?' Kizami thought, beginning to follow the remnants towards their destination.
'I hope you'll be okay, oba-san...' he thought lastly, peering at the look of content on Oichi's face.
-{[Kanegasaki; castle interior]}-
(play "Zhe(J) Prime" - King of Fighters '02: Unlimited Match)
It was around mid-morning by the time everyone was prepared for the strategy meeting.
Kizami had taken it upon himself to lay Oichi within her bed on the castle's highest floor. He'd decided to wait until she awakened on her own before speaking with her.
In the meantime...Kizami, Katsuie, and the other officers of the Oda were in the war room on the first floor as the soldiers either moved to their quarters or went about guard detail and other such duties. The generals were seated at a large rectangular wooden table with Kizami at its head. A map of the country, around the size of the table, was lain out before them.
Kizami had shed both his weapon and most of his armor, leaving him in only a black long-sleeved shirt, his gloves, and his pants. His metal boots had been replaced with traditional sandals. Also, whatever unseen force keeping his hair upright had disappeared, leaving the mane now straight and fallen down to his neck. (think of Lu Xun's hairstyle from Dynasty Warriors 6 onwards)
"To answer your previous question, Katsuie, I believe that we should start by recruiting allies to our cause." Kizami started, getting straight to the point of the council.
"And just what is 'our cause'? Who is it that you plan to fight against?" one of the generals, Nagahide Niwa, inquired.
Kizami was slightly annoyed until he realized he had yet to explain his goals to any of the remnants; not that he'd had a chance to, but still.
"With Hideyoshi Toyotomi now gone, full-scale war is on the horizon, if it hasn't come already. Ieyasu Tokugawa, a former retainer of Hideyoshi, was the one to defeat him, and now a fervently loyal officer of Hideyoshi's named Mitsunari Ishida wants revenge. Ieyasu's determination for a land of peace and Mitsunari's vengeful desires cannot co-exist within a unified land. Since neither will bend, one must break." Kizami explained, enumerating on the situation that lay before them.
"Amongst every force within this country, I know that they are the ones who shall rise up and become the two major powers. Surely, they'll begin to amass army strength in preparation for battle against one another." Kizami continued, giving the floor to Katsuie.
"Numerous forces are still scattered across the land. In the east, we have the Nanbu, Date, Mogami, Satake, Utsunomiya, Uesugi, Takeda, Hojo, Anegakoji, Maeda, and lastly, the Tokugawa. In the west, there are the Saika, Kobayakawa, Amago, Mori, Chosokabe, Iyokono, Kuroda, Otomo, Shimazu, and of course, ourselves and the Toyotomi." Katsuie said, marking each area as he spoke.
"Ieyasu in the east, and Mitsunari in the west...sounds fitting." Kizami idly remarked, still thinking on his options.
"Kizami-sama, if you believe what you say about the Tokugawa and Toyotomi, then which of them should the Oda become aligned with?" Katsuie asked, everyone turning towards Kizami, who had a pensive look on his visage.
"To be honest...I'm not completely certain." the Oda leader answered.
"What do you mean, Kizami-sama? Surely, you don't plan to...face both of them?!" Katsuie responded, prompting shocked looks from the others and Kizami's expression to become even more serious.
"That may very well be a viable option." Kizami answered, drawing gasps from the others at the, in their minds, utterly preposterous course of action.
"Allying with Mitsunari, at least, is unmistakably out of the question. I could never join forces with a man who only seeks revenge at the disregard of everything else, let alone the stability of the land." he started, pausing for a moment to reign in his anger. The other generals waited patiently for him to continue.
"Ieyasu, however, is another matter. While he seeks a land of benevolent peace, he seems almost...too idealistic for my liking. It appears as though he wishes to dissolve the need for military entirely, something that would most likely be impossible. And considering his nature, I doubt that he even plans to eliminate Mitsunari. That is where his weakness lies, and in the worst case scenario, could lead to his downfall should Mitsunari be enabled to exploit it. I can understand showing mercy to one's enemies, but doing so against one who actively seeks your own death is simply foolish." Kizami went on, several others nodding at the last statement.
"Of the two of them, Ieyasu is the only one I'd actually put consideration into joining, but should he lack the necessary drive to truly make his vision a reality...then we may have to take matters into our own hands. Agreed?" Kizami finalized, Katsuie and the others nodding in agreement.
"Excellent. All that will be taken care of in due time. But first..." Kizami began, doing a quick once-over of the map before continuing. "It appears that, other than the Toyotomi, the Saika Faction is the closest force to us from our standpoint here in Oumi, correct?" Kizami asked.
"Yes, my lord. Traveling there would take us only several days to a week or two at most. Is it there you wish to move first?" Katsuie inquired.
"Indeed. The Saika have proven time and again that they are an invaluable asset to anyone who acquires their services, and I'm sure that they will be no different in this present time. On top of that, I am personally acquainted with the current leader of the Saika; she and I have some...unfinished business to settle." Kizami answered, smirking towards the end of his response.
"Nothing that may jeopardize our plans of an alliance, I hope?" Katsuie asked, not knowing what Kizami meant by 'unfinished business'.
"Of course not, just a friendly rivalry is all. Now then, if we're all in agreement..." Kizami started, everyone nodding in affirmation. "Good. We'll move to march there within a few days time, in case other armies are thinking the same thing as us and plan to head there as well." the young leader finalized.
The meeting adjourned, the generals left in order to begin their preparations. Kizami, however, firstly decided to find out about that shifting shadow that's been in his peripheral vision for a while...
(end song)
-{[Kanegasaki Castle; top floor bedchamber]}-
(play "Falling of the Nightingale" - King of Fighters '02: Unlimited Match)
"You know, you didn't have to be so secretive in getting my attention, oba-san. If you wanted me for something, all you had to do was say so." Kizami remarked, still reeling a bit from his...interesting experience.
When he'd inspected the shadow within the war room, he suddenly found himself grabbed by a dark hand and literally pulled repeatedly through the multiple floors until reaching Oichi's bedroom. It was a surreal feeling, phasing through solid metal as if completely intangible.
"I am sorry if I inconvenienced you, Taka-sama. When I awoke, I was alone in the dark...I was scared..." Oichi responded, a heart-wrenching and sorrowful look upon her visage.
"I'm sorry for leaving you up here like that. I had some business to attend to, and you looked so peaceful while asleep, I didn't want to wake you." Kizami said, moving to sit next to her on the bed. While he sounded relatively calm on the outside, his inner thoughts were another matter...
'So she's deigned to refer to me by my moniker...has she fully regained her memories?' he inwardly thought, a whirlwind of possibilities making themselves known within his mind.
"I have to ask, how is it you discovered my location so easily? There must be at least several hundred people within the castle alone." Kizami inquired, wondering if she had some sort of sensory ability.
"I could feel that you weren't far away...your presence is warm and comforting." Oichi answered, accenting her statement by raising herself to a sitting position and embracing Kizami, a wistful sigh emerging from her lips as she snuggled into his form.
Kizami made no outward reaction to this other than blushing slightly and turning his face away from hers in embarrassment. "Is everything alright, Taka-sama? You feel very tense. Is my touch...not appealing to you?" she asked, a hint of disappointment flashing across her visage.
'Believe me, oba-san, that's not it at all...wait a minute, "appealing" to me? What is she saying?!' Kizami inwardly ranted, his face reddening deeper at the insinuation. Oichi giggled a bit at his somewhat stunned look before responding.
"There's no need to be so embarrassed, Taka-sama. What I said before is true...I wish to remain by your side forevermore." she said, resolute in her desire.
"Oba-san...you don't need to feel indebted to me for what I did. I only did what I felt was right." Kizami said, surprised and confused at Oichi's displays of affection.
"No, Taka-sama...I care for you. You are handsome and strong, and yes, you did save me, but more than that, you are kind and caring, never willing to give up on others...even if they have forsaken themselves. I admire you both for what you've done and for the manner of person you are." she responded with a pure womanly affection that was not lost on Kizami.
"Oba-san..." he started, but was cut off by Oichi pressing a slender finger to his lips.
"I know...you say we are family, and that may be true, but...we are also not family." she enumerated, apparently having recalled the fact that Kizami was adopted rather than biologically born into the Oda royal family.
The young man nodded tentatively and remained silent for now, allowing her to continue.
"I don't remember everything, but I do know that my feelings for you began long before now, even when nii-sama was still alive. In fact, when it came time for me to marry...Nagamasa-sama, I admit that I was a bit torn." she said forlornly.
"Torn...between me and him?" Kizami asked, shocked at Oichi's admittance.
"Mm-hmm. It should've been simple...you were my oi-kko by adoption, and he was my husband-to-be. But for a time, I just couldn't decide. It felt shallow and wrong of me to...compare the two of you in such a way, but it seems I did so regardless...in the end, though, it was ironically you who helped me make my final decision." she explained, a particular memory emerging within her mind.
-{[flashback]}-
(play "Hopeful Pain" - Dynasty Warriors 8)
It was the very night before Oichi and Nagamasa were to be wed.
Oichi, having yet to fully sort out her feelings, wandered the plains of Oumi as she tried to come to a decision. She paid little attention to her shifting surroundings, simply going wherever her legs took her.
'Nagamasa-sama...Kizami-kun...what should I do?' she thought to herself, not even noticing that she was rising in elevation.
Suddenly snapping to attention, she saw that she had neared a cliffside, the stars shining brightly in the far distance. She also noticed there was another individual several feet ahead of her, arms crossed and gazing into the nighttime skies. It was Kizami.
"Kizami-kun..." Oichi called out, catching the young man's attention.
"Hey, oba-san. What brings you out here?" Kizami asked, turning to face her.
"I was just...thinking." she answered solemnly.
"About your wedding tomorrow?" he responded, garnering a nod from Oichi. "Is something wrong? Not getting cold feet, are you?" he asked jokingly, but his expression turned serious when he saw tears tinging at the edges of her eyes.
"Oba-san...what's the matter?" he asked sincerely, placing his hands on her shoulders as a gesture of comfort.
He couldn't help but be surprised when Oichi suddenly threw her arms around him in an embrace, tears beginning to fall from her eyes.
"I just don't know...what I should do anymore...!" she cried, heaving breaths breaking her words.
Kizami lightly sighed at this; in his mind, he felt that anxiety had finally hit Oichi, the pressure of her impending marriage starting to detrimentally affect her. He understood, though...Oichi was basically being forced to marry a man whom, before the arrangement, she'd never even met.
However, although the matter had been made her appointed duty, he knew that Nagamasa and Oichi genuinely cared for one another, and they deserved to live happily together.
"Look at me, oba-san." Kizami gently ordered, Oichi turning to look face-to-face at him with tear-stained eyes.
Though feeling a horrible pang in his heart at seeing her saddened gaze, Kizami resolved himself to say what he felt needed to be said.
"I know that you may be having second thoughts about it...believe me, life-changing events like this are sometimes hard to go through with. But, I also know that you truly care for Azai-sama, and that he truly cares for you. I've seen it with my own eyes. Both of you deserve to live happily with one another, and this is your chance to do so. If you back out now, you'll end up going through the rest of your life wondering how it may have been." Kizami explained, an entreating look on his face to match his tone.
'Not to mention what otou-sama might do if you refuse...' he inwardly thought, knowing that whatever happened on that note would not be pleasant.
"Oba-san...if you truly love Azai-sama, then I think you should go for it. I'll support you every step of the way." Kizami finalized, a smile on his face.
Though Oichi did smile back, her mind was still engulfed in turmoil. She could hear an inner voice practically screaming at her, telling her to say to him that the real reason for her uncertainty...
...was because she had feelings for him, too.
But she couldn't. She was afraid...fearful that Kizami would reject her feelings of love because of their familial ties. And then, things would never again be the same between them, the comfort of their current relationship shattered.
The heartbreak she'd suffer over that would be far too much for her to bear.
Her fear overcoming her resolve, Oichi simply nodded and tightened her embrace around Kizami's form, wanting to enjoy being alone with him for just a while longer.
Kizami hugged her in return, his eyes closed and a peaceful expression on his visage as the moonlight illuminated them...
-{[flashback end]}-
"You were always there for me...you were the one who understood me the most...I love you, Taka-sama...more than as your oba-san, and perhaps even more than I should, but...I just can't hold my feelings back anymore. I beg of you...don't see me as one of your family seeking comfort...but think of me as a woman who desires your love and care...please...!" she pleaded, turning her face away from his as her fear of his rejection came back to her full force.
Kizami had remained silent during her oration, recalling the event in Oichi's memory perfectly. Everything was starting to fall into place within his mind:
The sidelong glances he occasionally noticed Oichi give him...
He himself becoming the liaison between the Oda and Azai clans, by her request...
How he was the first person she came to for comfort when Nagamasa died...
All of it finally made sense now. Throughout all this time, she had come to gain romantic feelings for him. But what was strange was...
He felt no discomfort from knowing that.
He felt no repulse, no strangeness, not even a hint of oddity, despite the fact that Oichi was, in all respects but blood, a member of his family.
Instead, he digested the revelation with a calm acceptance.
'If anyone deserves a relief from pain, it's Oichi...she's had much more than her fair share of sadness and heartbreak. I can't say I love her as a woman yet, but if her happiness means me caring for her beyond the realm of family, then I think that I can live with that.' he thought as cupped her chin, bringing her gaze up to meet his.
"Taka...-sama...?" she started, a dash of hope in her tone.
"I must say, this is rather unexpected...I never realized that you cared for me in such a way. But, what I desire is your happiness. If you truly love me, then I can learn to love you in return...Oichi-chan." he spoke lovingly, tears of joy tinging in her eyes at the gesture.
"Taka...-kun...thank you...thank you so much!" she replied, crying twin trails of tears despite her smile that beamed with happiness.
The two tightly embraced one another, reveling in the feeling of their newly-formed bond.
And thus was the start of a wonderful romance...
-{[Saika Stronghold; main camp]}-
A few days later, in the territory of Koya, a certain gun-toting mercenary leader was within the confines of her camp, watching as her men went about their daily rounds.
"Oyabun, you've been sent a letter." one of her soldiers relayed, holding said letter out towards her.
"From whom?" she asked.
"The identity of the sender is unclear. The messenger only told me that it was 'the leader of the Oda clan'." he answered, getting the woman's attention rather quickly.
"Very well. I'll take it." she ordered, the soldier acquiescing and handing her the item in question.
The letter read as follows...
"How's it going, nee-chan? Or should I call you 'oyakata-chan' now? Hehe. Anyways, I know you loathe when others mince words, so I'll cut to the chase. I'm the new leader of the Oda clan, and I wish to acquire the services of you and your faction. The fight between Ieyasu and Mitsunari is going to get heated soon, and I don't think the mere remnants of the Oda will be enough to stop them should either of them attempt to remove me and the Oda from the equation. While I'm not too worried about Ieyasu being overly aggressive, Mitsunari is another matter entirely. His vengeful rampage is a viable threat at this juncture, and I need to ensure that my army remains standing for some time. While I wouldn't dare think to use your forces as mere cannon fodder, it would be comforting to have some extra support in case times get rough, especially since I now believe that I may have to take matters into my own hands rather than merely allow them to play out unhindered. I know of the requirements for your services and am fully prepared to give you payment upon my arrival. By the time you read this letter, I'll most likely already be on the move. Besides all that, we still have to finish what we started, right?"
Sincerely,
Kyoshi no Taka
P.S. Remember, while you may become a mighty crow when together, I am a hawk even when alone.
The woman, although not showing it, was surprised at the letter's contents, as she knew exactly who the writer was. Suppressing a tick mark at almost hearing the smirk on the writer's face at 'oyakata-chan', she folded the parchment.
"What did the letter entail, oyabun?" the soldier asked as the woman rolled up the paper into its original state.
"It involved an old acquaintance of mine requesting our services." she answered, chuckling a bit.
"That makes the third request in the past few weeks...what is it you plan to do?" the soldier inquired.
"We'll see which one of them reaches here first...and which of them is the greater negotiator. Once that is determined, we shall do as we have always done." she answered.
"As you will." the soldier responded before heading off towards his next task, leaving the woman to her own devices. She moved towards her main chambers, preparing a create a response to the letter immediately.
'So, he is the commander of the Oda now...how interesting. Let us see what you are capable of...otouto.' she thought as she got started.
-{[with Kizami]}-
As the letter had indicated, Kizami and the Oda forces had already begun the march towards Koya.
Kizami, now fully clothed and armed, was leading the army with Oichi riding on the same white horse as he, her arms folded around the young commander's midsection. He had also decided to leave his hair the way it was during the preceding strategy meeting and heartfelt talk with Oichi.
While several generals remained in Kanegasaki for defensive purposes, Katsuie in particular had been chosen to accompany Kizami and Oichi for this campaign.
The man had undergone a massive change. The usual battle outfit he wore had been completely redone. For one, he decided not to wear a helmet, allowing his hair to be seen. While the front of his head was bald, the back definitely wasn't, a band keeping it aloft and the rest framing the sides of his head and leading into a full beard and connecting with a parted mustache.
Secondly, his normally standard armor had been changed to that of two distinct layers, particularly on his upper body. The lower one consisted of a dark purple chest plating held against his body with three leather belts. The upper one was a white cloth that covered only the left part of his upper body; it had the insignia of his clan, Shibata, emblazoned on the front. The top part of Katsuie's outfit was completed by the armor pad on his otherwise bare left arm and black gauntlet on each of his wrists.
On his lower body was a purple pair of traditional samurai pants and brown sandals along with a fur-covered pelt tied around his waist by orange rope. He also wore armor padding on his thighs.
Rather than a simple sword, he now wielded a pair of large axes in hand as he rode on one side of Kizami and Oichi. The weapons' blades were silver, and they each had black and gold insignia which included his clan symbol.
When Kizami inquired about this drastic change which had come about, Katsuie had this to respond with...
"I once faltered in the face of adversity, relying on Nobunaga-sama and the generals of the Oda to preserve the stability of our land and power. No more. Kizami-sama, I vow to you...I shall never again act as a coward. I will live as your adviser in times of counsel and fight as your sword and shield in battle!"
Kizami, although surprised with this sudden shift, applauded Katsuie's determination and granted him the position of being his right hand.
"Taka-kun?" Kizami heard Oichi ask from behind him.
"Yes? What is it, Oichi-chan?" Kizami inquired, craning his neck to look at her.
"Could you...sing a song for us again?" she asked, a rather innocent look upon her face.
"Why not? It'd be a decent break from the monotony." he answered, beginning his tune.
(play "Numb" - Linkin' Park)
Tired of being what you want me to be...feeling so faithless, lost under the surface.
Don't know what you're expecting of me, put under the pressure of walking in your shoes...
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow...)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you...
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow...)
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there. I've become so tired, so much more aware.
I'm becoming this; all I want to do is be more like me, and be less like you.
Can't you see that you're smothering me...holding too tightly, afraid to lose control,
'Cause everything that you thought I would be has fallen apart right in front of you.
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow...)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you...
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow...)
And every second I waste is more than I can take!
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there. I've become so tired, so much more aware.
I'm becoming this; all I want to do is be more like me, and be less like you.
And I know...I may end up failing to.
But I know...you were just like me, with someone disappointed in you.
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there. I've become so tired, so much more aware.
I'm becoming this; all I want to do is be more like me, and be less like you.
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there.
Tired of being what you want me to be...
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there.
Tired of being what you want me to be...
(end song)
"How was that?" he asked Oichi, garnering a smile in response.
"It was excellent, Taka-kun." she answered.
Hearing the telltale sounds of applause, he turned to see that the majority of the remnants were clapping in recognition; even Katsuie held a smirk on his face. The young leader lightly scratched the back of his head in response, not used to such positive attention.
"Quite impressive, Kizami-sama. Are you certain that you're more suited to battle?" Katsuie joked good-naturedly, knowing full well of Kizami's skill in combat.
"Don't discount me so soon, Katsuie-san. I can just as easily match you in a duel should the need arise." the young leader answered, smirking. The 'quarrel' was interrupted, however, when...
"Kizami-sama!" a messenger called out, slowing to a normal speed as he reached the leader's horse.
"Hmm? What is it?" Kizami asked.
"You've received a response to your letter from the leader of the Saika Faction!" the soldier relayed, surprising Kizami as it had only been several days since he sent out his letter.
"Already? Interesting...here, let me see it." he requested, the soldier acquiescing.
The letter read as follows...
"I'm surprised that you've managed to become the leader of the Oda, considering that you've been off gallivanting about who knows where for all these years. In any case, I do believe that you of all people would show my men and I the proper respect, so I will hear out your plans for hiring our services. Be warned, though...time is not on your side. Both the Tokugawa and Toyotomi have sent requests as well, and are making their way here. I highly suggest that you don't waste any effort."
"I look forward to our rivalry being settled once and for all, otouto. And should you ever decide to refer to me as 'oyakata-chan' in my presence, you can expect to receive several bullets through that mouth of yours."
Sincerely,
the leader of the Saika
P.S. Even a hawk can be felled if it is caught off-guard.
"I see..." Kizami said, folding the letter.
"What is it, Kizami-sama?" Katsuie asked, noting the pensive look on his leader's face.
"It appears that we'll need to accelerate our efforts to recruit the Saika. The leader has informed me that both Ieyasu and Mitsunari are leading their armies there as we speak." Kizami answered, only seriousness in his tone.
"Then, if we don't hurry..." Katsuie started.
"Right. Koya will become the battleground for a four-way free-for-all, and we can't have that. Men, full speed! We need to reach Koya as fast as we can!" Kizami ordered, the army obliging and setting off.
As the sound of racing cavalry filled his ears, Kizami had one thought in mind.
'Magoichi Saika...the time has finally come. I hope you're ready, 'cause I won't be holding anything back this time!'
-{[story outro]}-
play "Shinjitsu no Uta" by Rumiko Takahashi (Inuyasha anime ending #5)
Akaku nijimu taiyou wa subete o,
(the scene starts with Kizami walking solemnly through a completely black landscape, the only light being a white outline around his body that illuminates his form)
Terashite kita ima mo mukashi mo.
(the camera shifts to a headshot view of Kizami, who is still walking, as he levels a hard stare straight ahead at an unknown spot in the distance; only half of his face can be seen)
Kono yuuyami ni egaiteru souzou wa
Hatashite kono te ni oenai mono na no ka?
(the image fades to a ghostly gray, but is still visible as other images appear on screen: Masamune unleashing his 'Six Claws', Magoichi firing two of her guns repeatedly, and Yukimura swinging his spears while yelling)
Motto ima ijou ni hadaka ni natte,
Ikite yutsu de oshiete yo.
(all images fade to white as Mitsunari appears on screen, slashing his sword in slow-motion as a black sky appears to emerge, trailing after the sword)
Honno sukoshi dake watashi o yogoshite?
(Mitsunari is now fully immersed within the dark landscape, his visage slowly fading until only his golden eyes can be seen)
Sou yatte hitori kizutsuitari,
Mawari o nakushita to shite mo,
(the camera pans a distance behind him just as Ieyasu emerges from the sky, slamming a fist into the ground and generating a light-emitting shockwave that flows forth in all directions)
Shinjitsu no uta wa kono mune ni nagare!
(the scene shifts back to Kizami, still walking within the darkness as a bright white light consumes his form)
Motto ima ijou ni watashi o yogoshite...
(the light fades and reveals Kizami walking along a rocky path, the Oda remnants flanking him on both sides and parting before his advance; Kizami shares a nod with Katsuie as he continues)
Honno sukoshi dake watashi o yogoshite...
(Kizami nears the end of the path and sees Oichi waiting for him; she turns and happily embraces him, Kizami eagerly returning it as the two turn to look at the sunset)
Shinjitsu no uta o michishirube ni shite.
(final image: the screen depicts a landscape that is divided in half by a thin white line; Mitsunari and his 'dark world' on the left, Ieyasu and his 'bright world' on the right; Kizami and Oichi are perfectly in the middle)
-{[outro end]}-
Notes
Well, there you go. The newest chapter of Legacy bites the dust, and I try my hand at an intro and ending. Hope you enjoyed it. The next update won't be for a little while, as I'm going to make another chapter for my Chaos Reigns story before coming back to this one.
From this point onwards, I'll be making a list of who owns what territory and who is a part of the three main forces(Toyotomi, Tokugawa, Oda). At this point, everything is evened out at one each, but that will change.
Territory List:
Nanbu – North Mutsu (Mt. Osore)
Date – Oshu (Ryu Kyoso)
Mogami – South Mutsu (Hasedo Castle)
Satake – Dewa (Kubota)
Utsunomiya – Hitachi (Kannagawa)
Uesugi – Echigo (Kawanakajima)
Takeda – Kai (Ueda Castle)
Hojo – Sagami (Odawara Castle)
Anegakoji – Echizen (Kaerikumo Castle)
Maeda – Etchu (Tetorigawa)
Tokugawa – Mikawa (Mikatagahara)
Saika – Koya (Saika Stronghold)
Kobayakawa – Yamashiro (Karasu Castle)
Amago – Harima (Gassantoda Castle)
Mori – Aki (Itsukushima)
Chosokabe – Tosa (Nakatomigawa)
Iyokono – Iyo (Noshima)
Kuroda – Hizen (Ishigakibaru)
Otomo – Chikuzen (Hetsugigawa)
Shimazu – Kyushu (Mimikawa)
Oda – Oumi (Kanegasaki)
Toyotomi – Settsu (Osaka Castle)
Force List:
Mitsunari – Toyotomi
Ieyasu – Tokugawa
Kizami – Oda
Next chapter will feature the skirmish at the Saika Stronghold. Will Kizami be the first to reach Magoichi? How shall their grand-standing rivalry end?
Find out next time, on Legacy! This is Ravien VaLente Spada, signing off!