Author: Nami-chan.
Pairing : :DateSana, MotoMoto, KoSasu, IeMitsu, and some other I won't spoil
Disclaimers : I think we all would like to have the on right Sengoku Basara, but it's not my case
Note : Still no beta.
Dragon Tales Book Two
Part 6
The door of his room suddenly opened, abruptly pulling Yukimura out of his light sleep. As he was still lying on his futon, his hand instinctively seized his spear beside him and he rose it toward the intruder.
The russet haired ninja raised his hands facing the weapon pointed at him, looking as surprised to have found the young tiger in his room. He didn't back away whatsoever, but his lip quivered under the semblance of a smile.
"Sasuke? You don't announce your presence before entering now?" Yukimura asked, removing the last bits of sleep fogging his eye by rubbing them with his palm.
"It's not as if I expected to find you here in the middle of the day, Danna." the ninja said in defense.
Yukimura quickly sat back, bending his knee to sit under his legs, back straight before exclaiming: "I was cleaning my spears, but I dozed off!" he bowed his head and looked around all the paraphernalia he had placed around him, cotton, choji oil for the blade and scouring powder and cloth for the varnished wood.
Yukimura was usually very careful and methodical when he took care of his blades, it's certain that the room wasn't quite the appropriate place for this kind of things, one thing Sasuke couldn't help but to point out to him.
"The chief of the maids would have had your ass if you had tarnished the futon." he said, shaking his head.
That his master simply answer with a shrug as he was busy cleaning up the mess he had made , while ordinarily he would have been furious against himself and would have exploded in excuses remained the ninja that Yukimura current state of mind was subject to concern. Sasuke quickly closed the door behind him when he entered the room, not wanting eavesdroppers to hear the conversation he was about to have with Yukimura.
Yukimura's room looked like the kind of room that the young man had used his ninja. It was rather large but still modest in size and sparingly decorated, mainly because when he went wild, no one could find Yukimura in the mess he could make. A few sliding closets and a dresser on which was placed the doubtful result of Yukimura the last attempt at Ikebana. His futon, which was stored in his place only when the servants took it out to clean it, was covered by a bright red cloth decorated with the emblem of the Sanada.
"You fell asleep because you didn't sleep a wink last night, right?
Yukimura looked away, a sheepish look on his face when he replied with a simple nod. It wasn't as if he could forget about Masamune so soon. He was even surprised to have been able to rest a little at all.
Sasuke sighed and sat down next to him. Yukimura seemed to feel much better yet, even if it hadn't been his confidant last night and he apparently hadn't been unable to sleep, turning over confused thoughts in his mind. When he saw him, Sasuke had almost forgotten the situation as if the tiger cub eye showed he had the inside snap Sasuke knew he would have sooner or later. Yukimura was no longer silent, sharper and less stiff. He almost pushed Sasuke to begin to doubt his perception, well that or Yukimura became better to conceal his emotions.
Thinking that his master wouldn't want him to look in his eyes where he could read like a book, he fixed his gold freckled eyes toward the ornaments on the wall, a simple ink painting representing Ueda forests. He was about to open his mouth but Yukimura forestalled him.
"Why come to my room if you were not looking for me?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. His teasing smile was honest.
This time it was Sasuke who looked a little sheepish, raising an eyebrow in front of his master insight when he was troubled. Caught red-handed, he scratched the bridge of his nose, confessing. "I wanted to get something and bring it back to you to sheer you up a little." his piercing eyes noticed the carved wooden box Yukimura held in his hands, and it wasn't the box containing the maintenance tools for the young tiger lances. "But I see you went ahead of me concerning the item."
He watched while Yukimura stroked the box with his fingertips without opening it, refusing to see the content. "Actually I was thinking of throwing it away."
Sasuke quickly turned to his young master, an incredulous look in his eyes. Had he auditory hallucinations or Yukimura had just said he wanted to throw away a precious memory he had kept and pampered with attention since his childhood ? When Sasuke had thought Yukimura had a click, he was far from imagining that it was one of that kind.
"But I realized that it would be foolish to act on a whim like that. I surely would regret that later." Yukimura smiled opening the box, letting the precious little comb out of his case.
"Why did you wanted to get rid of it then?" Sasuke belatedly realized that his question slightly exceeded his status.
It wasn't as if Yukimura had ever cared about their ranks when they were alone. He handed the object to Sasuke, he unfastened his long hair, making it clear to his friend what he expected of him without any verbal exchange. He turned his back to Sasuke. The ninja took the comb in one hand and a long brown lock in the other. He felt a nostalgic smile pull at the corners of his lips. When was the last time Yukimura had allowed him do that?
"It's because I'm furious. My blood boils so much... I feel like I'm Kiyohime." Yukimura said and even if he could not see his expression, Sasuke could swear he heard the pout in his voice.
Unable to restrain his chuckle, the ninja passed the comb through the long silky hair, enjoying the contrast of color against the brown and scarlet of Yukimura jacket when he let the lock down.
"Except that it wouldn't be you who would turn into a dragon first." Yukimura word choice was fun, especially if Sasuke had correctly guessed who was the responsible for all this pent up rage. "But you're different from Kiyohime," Sasuke couldn't be wrong on this point, Yukimura's anger wasn't directed against Masamune, but against Yukimura himself, "... and that damn dragon is far from having the virtue of a priest too. " he added
Yukimura's shoulders shook with silent laughter. "If only there was a way to learn how to manage this kind of feeling. Ah, but even meditation won't calm me." he confided.
Sasuke shrugged, forgetting for a second that Yukimura could not see him. Continuing to remove some tangle, he spoke. "This is the fight of all men, well or rather women fight, maybe a girl in love could..., I don't know... maybe I should have asked Kasuga to come?" he teased, patting Yukimura shoulder.
Yukimura turned to glare at him, only the effect he wanted to give was marred by his protruding lower lip giving him an childish look. "I'm not a girl and I'm sure Oyakata-sama would be a better advisor than she will." He turned away and continued muttering. "I don't understand this woman, she is madly in love, and the man she loves him obviously returns her feelings, yet she does nothing about it. And continue pinning after him."
It wasn't very nice to Kasuga, Sasuke thought , Yukimura would already have a kunai lodged between his eyes if she had heard that. "Yare, yare." Sasuke rolled his eyes.
The young tiger let out a weary sigh when he let his shoulders drop back to let Sasuke continue his work. "Despite all my efforts to make him face the truth... and even if he still refuses to listen, I know I'll forgive him,I can't help it, it's stronger than me. Even though I know it will cost me in the long run."
Hearing these words actually formed a lump in Sasuke stomach. Yukimura had before him a chance to get out of this adversarial relationship while there was still time, but he preferred to throw this chance away. A part of him had always hated Date Masamune, the same part of him that continually told him that this man didn't deserve Yukimura affection at all... it made him sick to see how he behaved with him ... but he said nothing... because another part of him knew he wouldn't have been as brave as Yukimura had been in his place. Over time he had at least gained some respect for the dragon and though he had always cleverly hidden it, it became more and more complicated. Moreover, it couldn't deny that he had never seen his master as happy as he had been in the last two years. Making sure this would continue that way was just too exhausting.
"You can't do anything about it." Sasuke agreed.
"He is stupid, too straight forward, he refuses to see that I'm doing this for his own good, and bitter when things don't go his way... but he is Date Masamune, how could Sanada Yukimura could ever forget his feelings for his fated rival. Yes, I know it will make me suffer again and again. I also know that with him every moment good is worth a hundred times the bads one. It must be the way we operate, the way we work together. and I refuse to let him get away with it. If I can't forget about him then he wont forget about me." Yukimura went on, finally emptying what was weighing his heart.
"Love and hate are sometimes separated by a very thin veil." Sasuke pulled a little to much on a strand of Yukimura hair thinking about it, the circle alternating happiness and suffering in which his friend had committed himself... in which he was also engaged. "I would love to see Kojuuro children... but at the same time, it will mark the day he would no longer mine and mine alone. I thought I had forgotten him once after a first betrayal but..., and he pursued with so much fervor it hadn't taken too much for me to fall for him again... and I who know very well that a relationship between men would leads nowhere... I've never loved someone as much as I love him. "The atmosphere had Sasuke talk more than he should have, he almost regretted to have turned the subject on his personal matters.
He did not realize he had stopped to run the comb through Yukimura long hair, long enough for him to have the time to tie up his hair back and turn to him. "Then I'd better ask your for some advice."
The russet haired ninja suddenly waved his hands in front of him in defense. "Ah, no, no, no!" he didn't wanted to have this girlish conversation, it was too humiliating. Since, he already had openly admitted his love for a man, he wouldn't put another blow to his manhood, "I mean, I'm not impartial, I. It is in my interest that you're reconciled with the eyed dragon as soon as possible. "it was true, there was that too.
"Oh ..." Yukimura understood. "But I will not stop you from seeing Kojuuro." he tried.
Sasuke sighed, shaking his head at his master naivety. "He still is an enemy. Even so I can't bring myself to commit such an act of treason. and you never know what could happen, maybe his feelings are not as strong as mine and he'll take me as a prisoner. "
In front of the doubtful face the young tiger showed him, Sasuke returned to his assertion. " Although, coming from him, it would rather to ensure that I didn't betray my lord anymore if I sneaked out just to see him in secret. He is so straightforward."
Yukimura smiled again. "He need to be like that. After all he had been taking care of Masamune since childhood."
At these words Sasuke had trouble hiding his laughter, for the other young indulged in his when it was very communicative. Yukimura stopped laughing one second to mimic Kojuuro serious face and with a falsely low voice he said. "Masamune-sama, I ask you to stop this immediately. This kind of behavior is not appropriate." he laughed behind his hand waiting for Sasuke response because he was certain to have triggered him. He was ashamed to make fun of Masamune vassal like this... but it was so much fun.
Sasuke now burst out laughing and went on by imitating the actions of a wayward child. He said in a falsely high voice, exaggerating his gestures. "I do what I want! I am the future king of the dragons." he scoffed.
The two men went in laughter, Yukimura holding his sides from how much his was strong. Sasuke imitation was so perfect, it was quite the Masamune from his childhood who was a difficult child. he still was today, just a little trough, however he was wiser because the trials of life had given him great lessons and for that Yukimura thanked heaven, even though these lessons all had their fare share of misfortunes and that young tiger would haver preferred that his ex-lover hadn't suffered so much to learn in life.
And now he himself had inflicted one more wound...
That thought calmed Yukimura down and, with the tips of his gloved fingers, he wiped the tears that had beaded on the corner of his eyes. "Thanks for being there Sasuke. I feel better now, I really do."
"I'll not be a true friend otherwise." Sasuke said, putting a hand on Yukimura shoulder.
A restful silence followed during which the two men made the point with their mindset. But still, Sasuke knew that if he let Yukimura thought for too long nothing goodwill result from it ... and it wasn't as if he could spend the whole day with Yukimura either, he still had his work to do.
"Is Oyakata-sama steel keeping you away from anything to straining?" he asked, breaking the silence.
Yukimura clenched his fists. "He still confines me to minor tasks. I even had to help in the kitchen but they ended up sending me away because I was snacking in the food. And he his even taking care of Ueda himself. I have a heartache, not a war wound. "he said with a little annoyance in his voice.
"Oh, for a wise man as Oyakata-sama, it must be the same." Sasuke made a dismissive gesture with his hand, trying to show that Yukimura shouldn't worry about that.
"I have free time, so I planned to go see in what shape the old Sanada sanctuary is in the forest." trust Yukimura to find a way to occupy himself, inaction wasn't for him.
"The one which got burned when lightning struck it?" Sasuke wasn't even surprised that his master wouldn't seek to enjoy the rest Takeda had granted him and was instead using this time to take care of something not urgent. Yukimura had always been hyperactive.
"Yes, I still have to assess the damage and I should decide if it's worth rebuilding, it's a small shrine and few people still goes there." Yukimura looked thoughtful.
"It's been in your family for so long, it would be a shame to lose it." Sasuke stated.
The brown haired male rose up and stretched a bit, before finally answering his friend. "The old days of the Sanada are over Sasuke."
For once, the ninja didn't know what to say.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
In fact the shrine of the Sanada was something very small. No more than four wooden walls on stilts covered by a roof that can hardly accommodate one person at a time in it. There was nothing else to idolize inside but a statue of a local god whose Yukimura had forgotten the name, as he was more acknowledged with the Buddhist religion, although his family had traditionally been into the Shintoist religion.
The temple was located fairly deep in the forest. A small forest road maintained by the domestic connected it to the fortress, few people still went there. And this little number had completely stopped coming after a violent storm, one of those which happen whit the season change, that preceded the departure of the young tiger for Oshu. Lightning had struck the forest, the fire spread and had destroyed part of the small grove that housed the shrine.
The shrine already had a decrepit appearance the last time Yukimura had seen it. But now, the remain where a little more than a partially blackened and charred ruin whose roof was half collapsed, the main beam was still holding into a small piece of roof helped by the only wall that seemed intact. The charred trees around weren't a good sight either, this part of the forest will probably take years to recover, fortunately the fire hadn't drastically extended.
With a sigh, Yukimura walked to the pile of wood to see if there was something worth saving inside. He picked up what was left of the door, seeing very well that the statue inside had been hit by a piece of roof when it fell over. Impossible to fully state whether the object wasn't recoverable without going inside the ruins. The young tiger was about to do so, starting to move the debris away from the entrance.
"I see ... it seems that the nature indeed always had some ways, or maybe this was fated to happen? Is it really a coincidence or a higher power is imposing this trial for us mere mortals? "
A sudden voice made him turn, reacting on instinct, Yukimura unfastened his spears from his back, waving them in front of him.
"Who are you? What are you doing here? This is a private Shrine."
The man who just spoke stared at it for some time obviously ignoring the potential threat posed by the samurai if he didn't answer him. Instead he turned his attention toward the shrine remains.
"Is the sacred barrel of sake this temple was hosting is intact?" the man asked.
Frowning in front of such shamelessness, Yukimura took the time to look at the intruder in more detail. He was middle aged man with an elegant posture. he was tall, and had jet black hair tied high pony-tail in samurai style, some white strands showed that he wasn't so young, two of them were elegantly placed on the side of his hair, giving him a wise and serious air. He had a beard in a unique style of facial hair only covering the sides of his cheeks . He was carrying a black and yellow light armor with a asymmetrical long coat, black and white perfectly separated over. He also wore a long katana stored in a beautiful black and yellow sheath on his left.
"I have doubts about whether I should feel flattered or outraged by such a stare." the man said.
Yukimura started, something in this man voice wasn't ringing well with him, he felt oppressed. "Politeness would have you to answer my question first." the young man retorted, still clutching his spear in his hands.
Slowly, as if he was waltzing, the man approached him, one hand behind his back, he looked at Yukimura with his mall gray eyes, a smile appeared on his lips when he answered. "It is true that I shouldn't have asked such a question when the obvious answer is right in front of me. Tell me young man, have you felt any difference in you lately?" he asked in an amused tone, his hand rubbing his strange beard.
The young tiger backed away while the man continued to approach him, he pointed his spear in front of him, the blade stopping a few inches from his assailant chest. "I asked you a question first, state your identity!" Yukimura practically roared, impatience outweighing his cool.
"Knowing my name is of no importance. You will come find me soon enough, like the others. I wonder what is your dream." the man merely shook his head.
It took only one blink for Yukimura to lose sight of him, a single second that had him losing his breath and panic run in his blood when he realized that the man hand had his jaw in a tight grip. Yukimura groaned in pain as he felt something sharp going through the thin skin of his cheek. Frowning, he sent a glare at his attacker who increasingly tightened his grip on him, trying to make him tilt his head back.
What kind of twisted man would barb their gloves? This was all that went through Yukimura mind when he left one of his spears fell to the ground to come and try dislodging the man hand with his own. Clawing and scratching his assailant's wrist.
"Let go of me ..." he groaned with difficulty. It was strange. He was paralyzed. He had the feeling to weigh a ton and fighting against this man gave him the feeling of moving a mountain with one arm.
"Shh, it will not take long." the man said before suddenly pull his hair to force his head back. "Let me see."
Yukimura opened his eyes to glare at him, he felt no deadly aura and couldn't consider his life in immediate danger, but he still the young tiger pride was hurt for him to be played like a puppet.
The man stared into his eyes and for a moment, Yukimura found himself at peace, as bewitched, his breath resumed a normal pace and his body seemed drained of all superfluous feelings. All this in no more than one second, Yukimura had no choice but to stop resisting.
"Oh ... you are very special indeed, much more than the others. Your mark is the most beautiful I've seen so far ... so you would have inherited the strongest? How ironic... a soul this pure, I never thought I would see one still surviving in this perverted world. A true treasure indeed, and yet this his so hypocrite with all the blood I can see on your hands... " the man muttered.
"What the-?" Yukimura tried to question.
But his voice had no interest for the man who resumed his monologue, ignoring the youngest. "What a shame to see it disappear, hmm so is human nature, I guess. Everything, even the most beautiful thing is sooner or later perverted by decay and return to the dust that saw it's birth. Well, it still will have great difficulty with such purity if we don't give it a little push."
Immediately, the man placed his free hand on Yukimura forehead and even through his headband, the burning inflicted on him by the gesture had him instantly growl under a stifling pain. It wasn't long before hie gasped, and his eyes closed. Without care, the mysterious man dropped the inert body of young man on the ground, and disappeared like he came through the forest.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Kojuuro. Come in." Masamune said, raising his head from his paper roll when his vassal entered his office.
"We found the spies, both of them, Masamune-sama. Or rather, should I say, the children found them."
Masamune showed a stratified grin. He had promised to deliver what they wanted to Ranmaru and Itsuki to thank them for taking care of him, and now the kids added to his debt by wedging him of Hanbei fucking spies, the filthy man who gave away everything about his private relationship with Yukimura before swapping Kojuuro letter. Really, The children wanted to help, but soon he wouldn't know how to thank them back anymore.
"Did they talk?" He said, almost regretting not being able to personally handle the interrogating.
"Precisely, Masamune-sama." Kojuuro gave a slight smirk, his hand coming to rest on his katana handle, knowing instinctively that his master would choose to do after that.
"So it means..., I think one of us have to go and tell the guys we are back kicking some ass."
TBC
Please, feed my soul. Is there still someone reading this ? This chapter was such a hassle translating.
The tale of Kiyohime is a Japanese legend were a priest was having a love affair with a noble lady and suddenly decided to end it. Kiyohime pursued him because she loved him and he kept fleeing, he crossed a river and then from rage the women turned into a dragon and continued going after him, he hide in a bell and the dragon breathed fire on it melting the metal and killing the priest.