Hello everyone!
Before anything, let me wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
May the world become a better place for everyone in this upcoming year.
I wish you all the best 3
- Choco.
On another note, this chapter is long. Probably the longest chapter I ever wrote in my whole life.
Chapter 22: Goodbye and Hello Again
Next day on the way to Odawara, Megohime noticed that Ieyasu, Mitsunari, and Hanbei were not there. As she wasn't allowed into meetings anymore, she couldn't know anything about Hideyoshi's plans. But she was sure that Hideyoshi was planning a wide-scale battle since it seemed as if he divided his army into four.
"Masamune-sama, battle has commenced at Echigo between Uesugi Kenshin and Ishida Mitsunari of the Toyotomi army." Kojuuro reported to his lord who was staring at the direction of the Odawara castle.
"Ishida Mitsunari… What about the masked girly guy and Ieyasu? It's obvious that the mountain ape will lead the main army to Odawara, but what about his generals?" Masamune asked without looking back at his right-eye.
"Takenaka Hanbei parted ways with Ishida Mitsunari at Echigo and continued west. Tokugawa Ieyasu stationed himself north-east of the Saika highlands. My best guess is that he'll serve as backup for the main army. Lastly, Magoichi Saika was seen advancing with the main army."
"So, Saika is coming," Masamune said with a smirk and turned to Kojuuro to add "This party will be wild! Now get moving; we're heading to Odawara. I'll beat that mountain ape, pay my debts to Saika and beat her as well, and most importantly," Msamune paused and turned to the horizon once again. Kojuuro noticed his lord's grip tighten on the horse's reins as he finished his sentence with "I will bring Mego back home."
Like that the Date army advanced to Odawara hoping to reach it before the Toyotomi army. Not like it made any significant difference to Masamune since he was planning to attack with full power and beat Hideyoshi once and for all in all cases.
The Toyotomi army made it to Odawara first. They faced a small group of ninjas who stayed behind at the castle with their lord as the rest of the army was ordered to travel north to the land of Mutsu. Ujimasa surrendered but declared that he'll not leave his castle as anything but a corpse. Hideyoshi promised to grant his wish once he's done with the one-eyed dragon who was closing in from the north in full speed.
As the castle of Odawara loomed before Masamune, a familiar face appeared before him too. It was Maeda Keiji. Masaune came to an unwanted halt before the flamboyant man who was running out of breath and sweating heavily.
"Dokuganryuu, listen to me!" Keiji demanded on the top of his voice.
"I'm in a hurry. I'll listen to you later."
"No! Just listen to me!" Keiji demanded again and tried to catch his breath to continue talking.
"Then do it quickly!"
After few seconds as Keiji was finally able to breathe normally, he said "I was on my way to Odawara when I saw you. After Mitsunari attacked Kenshin I decided to go and try talking to Hideyoshi. He's not fighting for the right reason! He must stop this war or he'll just lose more than he planned!"
Masamune was starting to run out of patience. "Do you think he'll listen to you, Maeda Keiji?"
Keiji shook his head with a pained expression. "No. That's why I decided to talk to you instead. Maybe you can knock some sense into him! I can't fight him, but you can! You're also able to spare his life! So–"
"Cut it out! I dunno what kind of relationship you had with that Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but don't give me that "He was a good guy in the past" speech now!"
"Masamune-sama…" Kojuuro tried to speak up, but he was silenced by a hand gesture from his lord who never looked away from Keiji's face.
"Maeda Keiji, you fought well. You fought long. You fought someone you care for. It's time to give up now. Knowing you, I bet you talked to him many times already. But he never listened to you. Sometimes we just can't change others' hearts. I dunno what he's fighting for, but I know he's serious about it. And I'm serious about beating the hell out of him, so you're in no position to ask me to spare his life. Now I need to leave." Masamune said in all honesty that Keiji couldn't argue anymore and moved out of Masamune's way. He stood at the side watching the one-eyed dragon and his men move in full-speed like an arrow towards Hideyoshi.
Megohime and her maid who accompanied her from Osaka were being led deep into the Odawara castle by two surviving ninjas. Ujimasa was a good friend of her grandfather's so she couldn't help but ask her escorts about him. At first the two men in black hesitated, then one of them told her about what their lord was planning and how Hideyoshi delayed his execution because Masamune was very close. Upon hearing her husband's name, Megohime's heart sank. Her husband was planning to take Hideyoshi head on. She knew pretty well how powerful Hideyoshi is and how scary he can get. Her hand clenched at her chest as breathing became harder with her growing fear. After what seemed an endless walk, she was finally let into a windowless room. She sat in silence trying to deal with her uncontrollable fear. Cold sweat was covering her forehead, her hands never stopped shaking, little sounds around her grew louder and louder, and her vision started to grow blurry as her tears welled up. "I want to see Masamune-sama" Megohime repeated in a choked little voice. Her maid was holding her shoulders tight and trying to calm her, but Megohime seemed as if she couldn't hear a thing her maid was saying. She was trapped in a dark deep well made of fear and desperation.
Suddenly, without any warnings, Megohime was drowning in cold water. With the same alarming speed she was pulled out of that dark well. "Get a hold of yourself, Megohime!" someone yelled at her face. Megohime was looking at a face but she couldn't make out who it belonged to. Two strong hands shook her as she heard the same line again. "Get a hold of yourself I said!" The hands stopped shaking her and took a hold of her face instead, thumbs sweeping tears away from the corners of her eyes.
"Sa… Saika-san…"
"I have no much time. Now dry your tears, change this wet kimono, and have faith in Dokuganryuu!"
Just then Megohime realized that she was crying, and as she confusedly looked down to check her kimono, she noticed a small bucket of water lying next to a tea set and it was empty.
"I had to splash that water at you…" Saika started to explain. "No matter how loud I called your name, you were not responding at all. You were somewhere beyond my reach and it scared me for a short moment, so I just grabbed that and splashed it all at you. I'm sorry."
Megohime shook her head as she tucked some of her wet hair behind her ear. "No. Thank you. It was scary… Really dark and scary. And Masamune-sama was not there. No one was there." She was thankful to Saika. She brought her back to the reality where her husband still lives and fights to survive, where everyone she cares for is still there. But the fear of losing them remains. It's not something that cold water can wash away so easily. Trying to think about something else; Megohime's brain provided a good question. "Saika-san, what brought you here?" Megohime asked as she couldn't remember Saika accompanying them into the castle.
"I just came by to check on you as I heard that the turkey husband of yours was heading our way."
"I'm sorry for causing you all this trouble."
Saika smiled softly and placed a hand gently over Megohime's head and said "Honestly, I thought I'll find you smiling like a dork because you'll finally reunite with your man."
Megohime didn't see that coming and her face started to feel hot as it turned pink. She looked down at her knees and in a low voice she said "Do I give that kind of feeling?"
Saika nodded without hesitation. "Yes. I might have been around you briefly for only two days or less, but whenever I see you around other people, you're always smiling at someone or chatting happily with another. For few times I thought that you're as stupid as your husband."
"Masamune-sama isn't stupid!"
"Yes he is. And so you are. You're the stupidest couple after the Maedas."
Megohime opened her mouth to argue but didn't know what to say.
"Anyway, I need to go now." Saika said as she got on her feet. "Have faith in the ones you love so they can fight with all their might with no worries."
Megohime giggled.
"What's funny?!"
"Nothing. It's just that Masamune-sama and I think the same as you. About this faith thing."
"Really?"
"Would that make you as stupid as us, Saika-san?"
Saika laughed and nodded "I think yes. You two rubbed your stupidity on me it seems."
Finally Saika made her way to the door. She pulled it open and stepped out. Before taking another step she turned back to her new friend, smiled for one last time, closed the door and walked away with fingers running through her ginger hair.
Midway a soldier came running to her. "Magoichi-sama! Dokuganryuu is here. You must take your place at once!" he announced. Saika nodded and joined him in his run.
Outside of the castle walls, the two armies stood in perfect formations facing each other with their lords standing at the very front of each side. Despite the huge number of people gathering in one place, no sound was audible but the sound of the howling wind and rustling leaves and grass. Few more moments of silence and Hideyoshi made the first move; he took few steps towards his opponent who was till mounting his horse. Hideyoshi didn't need to tilt his head up to talk to Masamune, he was simply huge enough.
"Get off your horse, Dokuganryuu. We shall settle this among ourselves, you and me." To Hideyoshi, defeating only Masamune was enough. Oushuu's army wasn't big enough to threaten him.
Masamune didn't move and didn't say a thing. He just stared into Hideyoshi's eyes trying to measure how much anger is kept inside the huge man.
"You dare oppose me? Your skull shall serve a warning when I rule this land!" Hideyoshi howled in a voice that travelled miles.
Masamune smirked this time. He got off his horse and leisurely walked to stand before Hideyoshi and widen his provoking smirk and say "If I'm not in the mood, the party is over." And that turned Hideyoshi's switch on. In a flash Hideyoshi was done landing a devastating fist on Masamune who found no time to block it and got buried in the ground beneath him. The Oushuu army called out "Hitto!" after a round of gasps. No one was anticipating that. The only one who would have been able to read Hideyoshi perfectly and warn Masamune in time was on his way to the west.
Katakura Kojuuro parted ways with Masamune and left to chase after Takenaka Hanbei after receiving information that described his fearsome plan. Takenaka Hanbei was waiting at the west sea for Motonari Mori's Nichirin. The natures of Mori being untrustworthy, and Hanbei being doubtful at all times, called for an unexpected alliance that formed and threw many strategists through Japan in a whirlpool of uncertainty. What was certain this time is that their alliance was solved. Hanbei placed a spy among Mori's forces and ordered him to poison Mori and hand him the Nichirin. But Mori was faster at discovering the spy and used him to form another strategy and make the spy relay wrong information to Hanbei. And now after killing the spy, Mori changed his route. Hanbei who moved west before knowing that his spy was killed was accompanied with only a small number of soldiers in hopes that his spy will do the work and then he will get hold of the Nichirin and have command over all the army of Aki. But now, Hanbei was an easy target for Katakura Kojuuro.
It wasn't hard for Kojuuro to catch up with Hanbei or get rid of the soldiers with him. But it was hard to keep his anger under control as he faced the masked man. "Takenaka Hanbei, hope you're ready to meet your fate!" Kojuuro said with a voice full of anger. Hanbei took his time in getting off his horse and unsheathing his sword. "I have no regrets so I'm ready to meet my fate. But my life isn't for you to take, Katakura-kun." he said smiling and pointed his sword at his opponent. Kojuuro accepted the challenge and charged forth. They were evenly matched, they were ready to lose their lives at this place, they were putting everything in each blow. Sparks flew everywhere whenever their swords clashed and whenever their eyes met. For their lords they fought each other.
"If only you joined the Toyotomi." Hanbei said as he took slow steps backward preparing to attack again.
Kojuuro didn't say anything, just watched his opponent closely and tried to predict his next move. But the next destructive move never came. Instead, Hanbei was suddenly down on one knee coughing. The ground beneath him was being covered in blood. He clutched his sword tight and used it as support to get back on his feet. As his coughing stopped he wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth and smiled at Kojuuro. "My time is running out as you can see. That means no more playing around, I need to finish you with this final attack, Katakura-kun."
"I won't hold back either."
"And that's what I'm asking for." Hanbei said and dashed forward with all the strength he had left.
It only lasted for a second and everything was over, once and for all. Kojuuro escaped Hanbei's blade and pierced his chest with his. Hanbei slowly looked down at the sword going through his body and having his blood all over it, he watched it being pulled out and allowing more blood escaping his body. Swearing he'll never kneel before anyone but Hideyoshi, he kept on fighting his shaking legs to stay standing. Again, using his sword as support, he leaned over it and looked down at the ground, "I'm not going to get buried… No!" He looked up at Kojuuro once again and pushed himself up, standing as straight as he can. Slowly he took few steps back and bid the world farewell. The ground which he was standing on crumbled and fell down to the sea below, bringing Hanbei along.
"I'm sorry, Hideyoshi… Goodbye."
At Odawara, Masamune and Hideyoshi continued their fight after the former survived the latter's punch. But for a second Hideyoshi froze and turned his gaze west. He felt it. Hanbei was no longer in this world supporting him, and fighting with him for the same dream. Hideyoshi felt a void growing inside of him.
"Stop spacing out when you got an urgent situation to deal with at your feet!" Masamune barked.
Turning back to the small man before him, Hideyoshi took a deep breath and marched forth saying "If you howl, follow it with a bite. In the land I will create, there is no need for the weak."
"Weak? Alright, I'll stop holding back and have you acknowledge me, mountain ape." Masamune said and unsheathed his six claws to encounter the coming blow.
Hideyoshi kept on sending a punch after another without breaking a sweat. Masamune dodged some and slashed at others with his claws. Too much force and too fast movements; everyone around those two men was unable to keep up with them. And then Hideyoshi found an opening and grabbed Masamune by the head and pulled him up, trying to squash his head with his helmet. The pain was unbearable and Masamune felt as if his brain will spill out of his ears any moment. "Too weak! Now die, Dokuganryuu!" Hideyoshi said and slammed Masamune with full force at the castle's walls making them crack and crumble.
All the sounds of clashing metal and the cries of the two men and the falling stones vanished, and everything was engulfed in utter silence. Masamune's men didn't know if they should wait for their lord or should attack trying to avenge him, they didn't want to believe their lord was defeated, but what they saw few moments ago left no room for doubt. It was over.
"The party isn't over yet, so don't walk away!" Masamune called out from under the piles of debris as he stood up on shaking legs. His men called out his name with some tearing up in joy to see him alive. Hideyoshi turned back with a shocked face. "Why don't you die?!" he said through gritted teeth and dashed back towards Masamune. "I told ya that the party isn't over till I say so!" Masamune repeated and took his stance. One final blow of his six claws and he was able to defeat his huge opponent. Masamune couldn't tell if he was able to put more power into his last attack more than he was ever able to before, or Hideyoshi's last attack was just lacking power and will compared to his earlier ones. He watched Hideyoshi fall, but couldn't believe that it was finally over. "Just stay down there…" he whispered and took unsteady steps back with the risk of falling at any moment. All his energy was drained out, but he has one more thing to do. He has to go and find his wife.
At that moment, defeating Hideyoshi had no meaning to Masamune other than eliminating the man who kept him away from his wife for too long. His brain was unable to realize the significance of his victory since he couldn't grab his prize yet. And that prize felt so far away with his legs refusing to move anymore. And to add to his agony, his knees gave away and he sank into the ground. Even that he was surrounded by his happy men now, Masamune was in no mood to celebrate yet. "Get me up!" he ordered and silence fell upon his men. "Now!" he added in a forceful tone and everyone was running with extended arms to help their lord up. When he was finally up on his feet with one arm around the shoulders of one of his men, he started dragging his legs towards the castle's main gates. He was moving too slow; that his frustration was building up too quickly. He cursed under his breath with every slow step he takes.
Saika watched the one-eyed dragon from afar and smiled to herself, then turned to her men and ordered them to move back to their lands. The war was over.
Once Hideyoshi's defeat was confirmed, Ujimasa's ninjas who were observing the fight informed Megohime at once about her husband's victory. At that moment Megohime felt a surge of different overwhelming feelings, but the strongest of them all that controlled her body at that moment was the feeling of longing for her husband. Without wasting any second, she was on her feet running towards the gates to meet him.
Masamune was still struggling to reach the gates when he saw Megohime coming out of them. He froze in his place and so she did. He was faster to come to his senses and he quickly pulled his arm back from around the soldier's shoulders.
"Hitto?!"
"Go back, I can continue on my own."
"But, your legs are—"
"I said go back!"
The soldier hesitated a bit.
"I don't want her to see me like that. So weak and broken! Now off you go." Masamune hissed.
The soldier nodded, bowed and walked away. Few steps and he heard Masamune thanking him. He smiled to himself and wished his lord good luck in his heart. It wasn't only Masamune who was waiting for this moment. All of Oushuu was waiting and fighting to get Megohime back. She was the sun they lost for one long year.
Masamune summoned the last bits of energy and endurance he has and walked toward his wife as steadily as he can manage. Megohime on the other hand was running towards him as fast as she can. Everything was going really fast inside her brain. She was wishing that this is not just another happy dream. She was wondering how she would feel if it all turned into a dream. She was also trying to remember if this yard was this big when she first came here, for now, the distance seemed to be really vast.
Masamune stopped walking and just stood there smiling at her.
"Why did you stop?! Keep on moving! This distance is too big for me to cover it on my own, dammit!" she shouted inside her head and her tears started to well up.
Few more steps and she was able to feel his hair brush against her hands briefly as she threw her arms around his neck. She was able to feel his breath brush against the side of her face as she buried her face in his shoulder. She was able to feel the slender frame and the warmth of his body as her own body came in contact with his. Finally she was able to feel his strong arms wrapping around her back and pulling her aggressively towards him.
She was finally home when she heard him whisper "Mego… Hello again." into her ear softly.
"I'm home, Masamune-sama." she said in a low shaky voice.
"Welcome back." He answered.
They stayed like that for four or five seconds, then Megohime was able to smell blood on her husband. She moved her head away from his shoulder and looked up at him for a second with a terrified look, then she took a step back and started checking his body for injuries. Blood was covering most of him. As she looked back up at him and opened her mouth to speak, Masamune held her face in his hands and hushed her.
"I'm fine. Stop panicking. I'm just fine, Mego."
"But, there is blood everywhere!" she said as her tears started to well up again.
"I said I'm alright. Now don't you dare cry!"
"I… I…"
"Do not cry, Mego!" he ordered firmly this time as he dried the few tears that ran down her eyes with his shaking tired thumbs.
"No! I want to cry! I had been holding back for long enough!"
Masamune was taken aback by the right to cry declaration.
"You have no idea how much I missed you!" she said and started to cry rivers. "You just have no idea how worried I was about you… You can never imagine the amount of fear I felt whenever I hear that you're fighting somewhere or defending Oushuu… You just can't… you… can't… know how…" and then she wasn't able to talk anymore. She just rested her forehead on his chest and sobbed hard.
"I felt all that." Masamune replied after few seconds and felt her hand clenching his arm harder. "I missed you badly that I kept on drinking for days. I was worried about you every single day. And I lived in fear every day. I feared that I might just die before I can see you again. Today, I almost died. I was afraid for real. I didn't want to die before seeing you; especially that I was only few yards away from you, Mego."
Megohime looked up at him with her teary eyes, took his face in her hands, and pushed herself up on her toes to print a kiss on his lips, warm, passionate, and a long kiss with so much hunger for him. The feeling of their lips on each other was a feeling they both missed so much and wanted to feel for a bit longer, so none of them tried to break that kiss. Masamune just pulled his wife closer, and she just led him through that kiss, going deeper with each second. When they were finally unable to continue due to the lack of oxygen they broke the kiss but rested their foreheads on each other's. They didn't want any more space to separate them anymore, they had enough. After catching some breath, Masamune leaned and kissed Megohime's neck and moved his lips up along her neck and over her cheek to whisper into her ear.
"I want to make love to you all night long. Let's go back home."