Another empty day of riding.
Too much of that with all the delays and doubts was starting to dampen their spirits.
Fortunately they were two days away from being close enough to unleash the planned attack.
That perspective seemed to perk the men up.
Still they had to reach Toyotomi's city.
Throughout the day she had disposed of a couple of scouting patrols, five shinobi, misled the guards of several posts on the roads and found a multitude of side paths to cut even more the riding time and the distance to Osaka.
Now night was falling and she was sure the camp was being made. But she was away from them, watching a suspicious group dig the ground, moving heavy devices around. There was a heavy scent of explosives on the area. They had no banners and no one seemed to be there to command them. Just men, soldiers and workers, following orders. Maybe a building project?
She nibbled her lip uneasily.
It was on a path that would not be a first choice. As choices went it would be the last resort road they would pick. Unless something like a truly imposing army force pressed them out of the roads.
Still something was wrong with that...
Report.
It was a simple call she whispered to the wind before she vanished from sight. If any of her contacts or ally was in the area she would have her answer. If not she could safely assume that there was an enemy about.
People moved in the shadows, behind the trees, as she returned, stopping, watching. The edges of the camp were visible, the glow of torches marking its position. A very small army of simply equipped men was preparing what seemed to be a quickly patched and executed ambush. The shinobi sighed, bowing her head for a bit. They had insignias that she recognized and they were not associated with Toyotomi.
On the contrary actually.
Still they were displaying a bit of hostility in that plan to waylay Date.
Saki shadow stepped, appearing next to the One-Eyed Dragon.
"Claws our Boss. We have company." She announced calmly as the adversaries started to move in. The army was quick to mobilize, to answer defensively. No one attacked on either side.
"They got some nerve. Let's see what they got." Date smirked, looking around quickly, pinpointing the boss.
A tall man, built like a warrior and not shy about showing it, the spiky white hair pulled back. His left eye was covered but his right was a clear sea-blue. The massive anchor and chain rested across his shoulders and under the magenta jacket he was bare-chested, smiling widely, swaggering towards the One-Eyed Dragon. Saki smiled slightly, just a tilt of the corner of her lips, appreciating the figure he cut between shadow and light.
Chosokabe Motochika moved the anchor, slamming it on the ground, staring at Date. For a man that was believed dead, killed by Toyotomi, he was looking unbelievably spry. The again so was the One-Eyed Dragon.
"Hey there. Mind if we borrow your horses." He announced, the voice slightly rough and boisterous, the smug smile extremely familiar. That did not sit well with the army that started murmuring and growing agitated.
Saki took a sudden deep breath and allowed a deeper sigh out, pressing one clawed hand against her forehead, the sharp tips curled away from her skin as she rubbed the sudden frustrated headache that was sure to come. Another one… after almost six years it was very easy to recognize when the Dragon was getting riled up and ready to start a brawl.
All the signs were there.
The encouragement and readiness to enter said brawl on part of his own army and adversaries would not help matters at all.
"You're hilarious." Date crossed his arms after gesturing to his army to tone it down, stepping forward to be right in front of the newcomer. Like mirror images despite Motochika being clearly taller and buffer. The weapon most likely helped built said physique. It most likely also made him slower to attack than the One-Eyed Dragon. She had only words, information and rumours one the man. What she had seen of him in the final battle against Oda were mere glimpses. No true way to gauge his potential but to speculate. "You're nothing but a bunch of bandits." True they looked ragtag but there were still hints about their actual natures scattered about. "Who the hell do you think I am?"
"Ah. Hold it there." Motochika chuckled, tilting his head in a mild challenge. "Too bad for you we're not bandits. We're pirates." There was a cheer erupting from his men at that, a sort of answer born of pride and loyalty. "We finally managed to get here by drifting along the sea. Sorry but I've got my reasons for doing this." An apologetic attacker… interesting. Still it would be empty bravado on anyone else.
Those two were serious though.
"Perfect." Date's hand was in the swords, getting ready to draw the in challenge. "Either way this is no way to ask someone for a favour." He scolded with nonchalance. "You show in the middle of the mountains but you call yourself a pirate so you've got a decent sense of humour too. Put that together with that «crazy» weapon of yours…" Both men were smirking, amused and cocky. Saki sighed, seeing the mirror all too clearly. "I like you." Dear gods, spirits and demons protect the world… the shinobi thought, not amused in the least. Those two would be too much for the land to handle, a terror… Katakura-sama would have grey hairs even before his time if that encounter ever became some kind of alliance.
"Hey bro here's some friendly advice. Hand over the horses without a fight." One of the pirates was shouting, clearly egging the army on. Behind him his brothers in arms cheered and jeered.
"Aniki is on the edge right now." Another added, arms crossed, head tossed backwards, in provocation.
"You'll be sorry if you get into it with him." More instigation yet again. Pirates liked to be loud. It made their threat seem even greater.
"The hell was that?!" The Date army was not one that liked to be outdone or mocked. It was deeply ingrained in their pride. Seki kept rubbing the edges of the promised migraine, actually considering getting some kusuri for it.
"You better not get cocky with us!" Yoshinao was next in the answering roster, pulling one of thuggish faces, glaring ahead. Everyone was behind his statement, making noise. So much damn noise. Saki looked around a bit worried, thinking about the little cover and deceit she had woven around their path, feeling it thoroughly shattered.
"If you think you can go against the Boss you're ten years early!" Magobei spat out, hands raising to further demark the difference in their levels.
"You got a pretty enthusiastic bunch there." The Dragon commented. Both leaders seemed mostly unaware and uncaring about what was transpiring behind them. Actually no. they seemed to enjoy that their armies were such a painfully un-stealthy horde.
"Looks like you've got a lot of spirited men yourself." The Demon retorted, swinging his anchor, taking a combat stance. Date chuckled and responded.
"The least you can do is let me enjoy this." The One-Eyed stepped further into the empty field that separated the armies. "Since you've decided to take this gamble."
"Don't worry. I've got a policy against cheating."
"Saki. Don't interfere." Date called, unsheathing a sword, swooping down for the first attack.
"I am not Katakura-dono." Saki retorted calmly. She would not interfere unless there was a true danger.
The attacks were quick, the size of the weapon seemingly not hindering the man at all. He had the style and the confidence to pull attack after attack but it seemed they were evenly matched, capable of keeping each others' speed and strength.
Motochika lost his weapon. Saki's eyes widened slightly, noticing that he had done it on purpose, moving on to attack with his hands, hitting Date in the gut, caught off guard, walking calmly and cockily, trying to land a kick. It was answered with a swift jab of the Dragon's elbow on the white haired head. The pirate stepped back, recovering the anchor, returning to the frantic attacks of metal clashing with metal.
"Aniki!" The pirate's crew was chanting in unison, fists pumping into the air sharply, marking each cheer.
The Date army was brought to a silent moment of shocked disbelief, exchanging glances. Yoshinao groaned angrily, moving suddenly, starting to clap and intoning, quickly followed by the rest of the men, both hymns echoing sharply around them.
"Boss!" clap, clap, clap.
Saki groaned and crossed her arms, still watching the match. That seemed to be the problem with it actually. They were matched. So the fight was bound to drag on until they were the ones dragging around and claiming they could still fight when lacking the strength to even move their legs.
"Unexpected party. Looks like it'll be a warm up before I go beat up Toyotomi." Date was saying as they stopped, parting to prepare the second part of the combat, the first impressions taken.
"I guess you're not just the leader of some lame crew tooling around." Motochika was now appraising Date a bit closer, both men circling each other in preparation.
"«That's right.»" Date smirked, sheathing the single blade before pulling out all six, lightning building around the metal. "Even if you develop a taste for it now that you made me draw my six swords there won't be a second time. «You see»"
"Right back at you."
They jumped against each other once again, this time seemingly holding nothing back, roaring, one of fire, the other electrified, the weapons crossing with such speed and precision it became a blur of light and sparks. Saki scoffed. They were both getting seriously into it and yet not actually. It had become more of a friendly spar she though as rock was shattered from one of the missed blows. Fighting people of similar skills was always such an important thing for these warlords. She sighed and looked up, waiting.
"Six swords and that crescent moon…" the pirates were starting murmur.
"Could it be…"
"He's seriously strong and the way he wields that anchor…" the army was starting to feel confused too.
"Can't be…"
Saki smiled slightly as the combatants stopped with gleeful smiles etched on their faces. It was a rather beautiful thing to see.
"«You rock» So you really are a pirate huh?"
"No wonder. Who'd have thought I'd run into the Azure Dragon I have heard so much about."
"What is the Demon of Onigashima doing, trying to steal horses?"
"Don't say that. Well to put it bluntly our backs are to the wall. I'm out to get some payback for the expensive fortress they wrecked and to rescue my men who were captured. I'm headed to Osaka, same as you."
Saki sighed again, seeing the dreaded alliance come to life. She moved closer softly, taking the helmet Date passed to her. Motochika was giving orders as his men joined the small war camp. The shinobi smirked suddenly and moved, slapping them both on the back of the head, tilting the forward before vanishing, leaving the men alone.
"Feisty little thing you've got there…" Motochika commented.
"It's her way to tell us we were fools." Date chuckled rubbing away the sting.
"«Hop to it»" Date shouted as the armies moved, sharing horses. As discussed after Saki had returned from another venture, trying to see if anyone had been following Motochika's progress, the added number of men created a greater advantage whether on the field or in the possibility of diversion. It was something to consider after that day when Osaka would be a mere three hours away from the spot they had chosen to camp in. "Osaka's just a stone's throw away. Let's get our revenge!"
Date's army answered with a loud cheer.
"We'll pay back the Toyotomi for everything they did and get all our friends back! Got it you sons of bitches?!"
"Aniki!" the Demon's army was no less enthusiastic when they shouted.
"Excellent." Date took a deep breath, turning to Motochika. "I heard your ship was something else. But it's good that you're not tied down anymore."
"True the Fugaku itself is not good for sneak attacks. It's been a while and the land breeze feels fine too." The pirate paused for a moment, his expression growing dark. But that bastard Mori… teaming up with Toyotomi like it was nothing. Why didn't he at least show enough mettle to settle matters between us on his own?!"
"Eh?" Date asked without words, catching the sounds over the sounds of war.
"Sorry. I was thinking." Motochika allowed a sharp sigh to come out before glancing at the One-Eyed Dragon. Saki found it funny that they rode with their blind spots turned to each other. If it was trust of they simply forgot about the fact that one of their eyes was useless was anyone's guess. There was someone I wanted to have it all out one-on-one before starting my conquest of the country. Unfortunately he wasn't interested. Too bad for me. I guess I wasn't fortunate enough to find myself a worthy rival. What is it Dragon man? You look like you were just reminded of someone."
Yukimura was not around and their last play-date, before the more serious encounter at Kawakanajima, had been at least two months ago. Saki believed it would have been time to scratch that scale itch soon if the cub had survived the previous encounter. But Toyotomi had simply ruined the dynamic and balance that had been maintained after Oda. No one had been that eager to start another war for supremacy that soon.
"There is this one annoying guy that's way too intense." Date admitted easily, glancing towards the horizon. "But there may be no next time. It's nice that he's as pure as the day he was born but he won't survive these turbulent times like that. He'll probably be the death of some people too."
"Oh? But if you still admire him even then…"
"Yeah. Burning soul. He's out of this world. No exaggeration. He wields those spears of his with such intensity. I can't keep my «cool»."
"Is that right? I'd like to see that myself."
A three way duel? Saki shook her head with a chuckle, closing her eyes, feeling the wind. It would be indeed something to see.
"Now then. The question is how do we attack?" Samenosuke was saying.
Both warlords had the habit of holding war councils to discuss the tactical decisions. It seemed typical of one that valued their men and abilities. They were gathered around the campfire, each army standing behind their respective boss. The said leaders were sitting on fallen logs, facing one another. Saki was kneeling on the ground in-between them, her maps open and marked for all to see.
"How about we split up into two groups and go through wakasa and yamashiro?" One of the pirates suggested.
"All right. You guys launch a surprise attack by way of wakasa and draw their attention. The One-Eyed Dragon will finish them off." Date said with confidence.
"All right. You guys launch a surprise attack by way of wakasa and draw their attention. The Demon of the Western Sea will finish them off." Motochika followed almost immediately, no less self-assured.
"What?" They growled at each other, glaring, going immediately into a scrap.
Saki sighed and stared at the possible paths.
"You tell us to be bait?"
"And what about you?"
"Hold on you two…" The armies were trying to ease their leaders, chuckling slightly, noticing the situation.
"How alike are you two…" Someone said, almost laughing.
"We are not!" Both men shouted at the same time.
"Your are like mirror images." She said quietly, not glancing at either of them, looking a bit aggravated.
Saki's head whipped up suddenly, standing, moving, grabbing the kunai that had come flying seemingly out of nowhere. It seemed to have no human target and there was a note attached to it. Silence was filling the camp, people nervously looking around, other moving into defensive positions almost immediately, other walking the ring of shadow and light that marked the edges of the camp, as she unravelled the paper wrapped around the handle, making sure no poison or traps were contained in the materials.
"Where did that come from?" was the prevalent whisper.
Her eyes widened for a moment as something metallic and hard hit her claws, falling to the ground. Katakura-dono's… Her eyes scanned the letter quickly before giving it to the One-Eyed Dragon, waiting.
"Matsunaga Hisahide…" Date whispered harshly as he finished, eye narrowed, crumpling the paper.
It was out of the way and she had seen it be trapped. She though the place and preparations unimportant, unlinked to what they were doing…
Now Date had a reason to actually go there and instead of three hours to Osaka they would be forced to march almost double that and without any guarantee that they would survive or keep the armies in one piece after fighting whatever that monster had prepared. She also felt deeply within her sensed that the whole thing was merely a ploy, a trap.
The ones that had been hurt and captured were fidgeting in discomfort.
Motochika was showing something akin to recognition in his eye, the grip on the anchor-weapon that rested against his shoulder tightening for the briefest instant.
Saki approached.
"Let me go." She asked, bowing. "I have successfully retrieved men from him before. Please allow me to do so once more."
Date glanced at her for a long moment, the engraved pin Katakura-dono wore on his jacket slipping between his fingers slowly, shining with the fire reflexes.
"We will still march to this meeting point. If you manage to retrieve Kojuro before we reach the man, then perfect. If not I count on you to be there to fight this bastard." Date ordered.
"Am I to understand my mission is to retrieve Katakura-dono?"
"Yes." Date stated firmly, staring her down.
Saki smirked very slowly, her eyes narrowing in calculation.
"Perfect." She whispered, shadowing.