Soul

Chapter Ten

The Western Edge: Recognize

Date Masamune is Sanada Yukimura's job, though he doesn't know it.

He is general of the advancing army, in charge of the growing mass of troops and weapons, artillery and supplies, that has been sent from Japan to take Chinese land out of German hands. While the West is distracted with its own work of conquest, the stolen provinces of the East are easy prey – or so he thinks, and all those who sent him.

He is young, but the army has been his whole life; he trained under his father, and ignored the tears of his mother, and when the day came that he was old enough he was far more than ready. The reputation of his family and his nation are twin weights on his shoulders, but not heavy enough to calm his reckless nature.

He carries his own rifle, bayonet ready; at his side are pistol and sword both. The patch that covers his lost right eye is bright and brilliant blue.

His pistol belonged to his father before him; the sword is inscribed with words that are his alone.

He is a dangerous man, a sharpened weapon aimed outward at the world from the cool, dense mists that populate Fuji. Without him, the Japanese offensive will falter; without him, there might be time for languishing German troops and Chinese fighters to gather their forces and defend their cherished land.

He knows all of this, but he will still fight with his own weapons in his own hands.

In his mind and in his heart an echo has been screaming since his first memory – an echo, a promise. It is a red-beating drum, a sharp and throbbing hurt, his sacred moment.

It is his dreams, wrapped in red and fire.

It is a kiss that he remembers, as he remembers a promise not to forget -

He will know, when he meets the one he made that promise to; he will know, and no border, no boundary, no impossibility will keep him away.

He wants more than kiss to hold onto.

A promise is not enough.


A/N: Hopefully Masamune doesn't disappoint...and hopefully this chapter appears, as ff . net has been eating my chapters alive lately...

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