Assassin's Creed: Tumult of the Sengoku Period

Chapter 36 of my Assassin's Creed story, enjoy.

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will zona: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. The Apple wasn't given to another Templar, Kanetsugu stole it from Kanbei, now Toranaga has to stop Kanetsugu.

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Assassin's Creed or the characters in this story except OCs.

Chapter 36: Finding Answers

1611; Toranaga and the Assassin's had been searching for months. However most of the clues they found simply led them to dead ends with no answers. They were still trying to figure out who was behind the attack on Ieyasu. The Tokugawa Shogunate was strong and firm and had power almost everywhere in Japan. The only place it didn't have any was Osaka Castle where Hideyori and his closest supporters resided in exile. Finally however Toranaga had heard about a promising lead in Kyoto and immediately he went there to visit the Assassin he had left in charge of the city. Despite now reaching sixty-eight he was still strong, many of his fellow Assassins had started to call him 'well preserved'. What Toranaga kept hidden however was that, despite appearing fine and indeed retaining his usual physical prowess, deep within he was feeling his age and was tired, exhausted by his long battles. He longed for them to finally be over but knew they would never be over while there was even one Templar still in Japan, and at the moment there were two.

'Kanetsugu is still in hiding, three more years until he unveils his plan.' Toranaga thought to himself, 'Sanada Masayuki remains in Ueda with his son Yukimura…They seem subservient but with Masayuki you can never be sure.'

Clearing the thoughts from his mind he arrived at the Kyoto safe house and entered.

He greeted the Assassin there who returned the greeted and offered him a drink, Toranaga declined and they got right down to business.

"Here's what we know." The Assassin stated, "We've overheard a courier talking about a delivery he is to make. From what we could gather, it's money and it's a payoff, the man he's delivering it to is that swordsman, Sasaki Kojiro."

"I see, I tail the courier until he pays Kojiro, then I interrogate them."

The Assassin nodded, Toranaga smiled grimly, he had the best possible source for answers, the very person who had been hired to commit the deed. He quickly left and headed to the intercept point, ready to tail the courier the moment he saw him. He did not have to wait long for soon he saw the courier round the corner and begin walking down the street. Using the crowd to mask his presence Toranaga followed the courier through the streets. Twice the courier turned around suspiciously, but Toranaga stayed in the shadows and used the crowd well. Finally the courier left the main streets and began to journey down the back alleys. Toranaga followed him, this time using the shadows and the walls to take cover when the courier looked over his shoulder. Finally they reached their destination, a run down building in the back alleys. Kojiro was waiting outside it and the courier handed over the payment, just then Toranaga made his presence known.

He stepped out and walked over to them.

"Hold there, I need a word with both of you."

The courier immediately cowered; Kojiro merely looked bored as he glanced at Toranaga.

"Aren't you that warrior who fought me last year?" He asked, Toranaga nodded, "Yes, and I have a message for you, but I need information myself first."

"Is that so, what do you need?"

Toranaga glared at both of them.

"Who paid you, who sent this payment?" Toranaga asked, the courier panicked and blurted out, "S-Sanada, Sanada Masayuki."

Toranaga turned to Kojiro, "Is this true?" Kojiro shrugged, "What's your message for me, only then will I answer you."

Toranaga sighed, he had no other choice.

"Musashi seeks a duel with you, on Ganryujima in a year's time."

Kojiro's eyes suddenly lit up when he heard that.

"Oh, I see, Arigato." He replied, "Very well, I can confirm it, it was indeed Sanada Masayuki who hired me, now, I must go train for my duel with Musashi."

Toranaga nodded and left the area, leaving them both to their own devices as he returned to Edo immediately to inform Hidetada and Ieyasu.

After Toranaga delivered his report Hidetada and Ieyasu began to discuss the matter.

"This is a grave crime father, surely they should be executed?" Hidetada stated, Ieyasu shook his head, "You forget, we have a Sanada here; think how it will affect him."

Nobuyuki however stood up and replied, "My father and brother brought this on themselves, I am no longer one of them, do not concern yourself with me."

After much more discussion it was decided to exile Yukimura with the rest of the Toyotomi sympathizers and to have Masayuki executed. While Yukimura went into his exile Masayuki refused to accompany the guards to his execution and instead committed Seppuku. That night, as he and Chigusa lay down to sleep Toranaga thought to himself.

'Just one Templar left. Kanetsugu. I will get the Apple this time, I cannot let him pass it on, he has no true supporters yet, he must be stopped before he does.'

His decision made, Toranaga drifted off to sleep, resolved to finally settle things with Kanetsugu once and for all.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.