Chapter Thirty-Six: The Assault on Chosokabe

Takenaka returned to Aki in the late afternoon of the designated attack day, inadvertently finding the three of us on the road back from the nearest town, another of our schemes to avoid Mori. Well, he passed us first, then pulled back on the reins, waiting for us to catch up to him. As he spoke to the boys, his words avoided my ears, my eyes too busy with the growing amount of grey that was taking over the blue, darkening to black in some places. I seriously doubted he had much longer.

Finally the boys nodded, running back to the castle. Making to follow them, I was suddenly halted by Takenaka's gaze, his eyes never leaving mine as he stepped from the saddle. "Is there something wrong, Botan?"

"Other than the present nature of my captivity, no." Staring him down, I let out a slight breath when he finally looked away, wrapping the reins around his hand. If at all possible, I wanted to avoid letting my advantages slip away, small as they were.

Still, as we walked up, I felt him turn to look at my again, a quick glance showing his narrowed eyes, "I trust Motonari has been a gracious host?"

"As far as can be expected."

Takenaka smirked, just as a loud whistling noise came from nowhere, a spray of water shooting into the air a second later. Ignoring my quick step back, Takenaka looked at it with a kind of disinterest, even as he handed off his horse at the gate, "It appears Chosokabe has begun his assault."

"No offence, but I though you were supposed to be attacking him." I laughed, the idea of Mori being taken down a few pegs way too satisfying. But Takenaka didn't react, merely flashed me that half grin, and continued walking, approaching Mori and one of his generals on one of the castle's small piers.

A line of boats was blocking the horizon from our eyes, but as more whistles could be heard, more and more began flying into the air, shattering as they fell back to the sea. Whatever was hitting them had some serious firepower behind it.

"Things seem to be going to plan my dear Motonari." Takenaka greeted, striding up to the vegetable head with a calm authority. He didn't tell me to stay back, or indicate otherwise, so I stuck by him, watching the boats continue to fly out of the water, one ear on the conversation.

"We're running half an hour late," Mori complained, "And I've lost more ships to this feint than I'd anticipated."

"You're to be commended for drawing the Fugaku out this far. Fear not, my master will shatter the pirate's bones and pound the flesh our foe has carved from you. This will surely buy the land of Aki peace and prosperity."

For a second, there was a flash of deceit in Mori's aura (more than usual at least) but it was gone just as fast, his mouth running new orders instead, "Akagawa, order all the ships to retreat at once."

"Right." As Akagawa went to relay the order, there was a second of waiting before green smoke was shot into the air, the boats turning around with evident relief in their sails. Turning to face us properly, Mori's impartial grimace met Takenaka's smirk.

Neither man said anything, but before I knew what they were planning, Takenaka had gently taken hold of my shoulder again, following close behind Mori as he stepped onto the cliff where the guard had been when I'd last been on the beach. This time though, the sand was lined with soldiers in black and red, Toyotomi front and centre on the rock that jutted out to the sea.

Slowly, the huge man began stepping into the waves, wading until he was knee deep and facing the Fugaku, unafraid of the huge cannon pointed directly at him. "Chosokabe Motochika," He called, "Swear fealty and I'll let you keep your floating toy. Or if you refuse me," He raised his fist, slamming it into the water with a yell, "I promise that you will meet your doom this day!"

The seawater flew up spectacularly, even reaching as far out as the Fugaku from what I was able to make out through my squint as I protected my face from the water. When the water and wind finally calmed, and I was able to see properly, a loud and involuntary gasp escaped my throat, my voice stumbling to find traction, "T-The s-sea…I-it's gone!"

"Lord Hideyoshi's might is certainly awe inspiring." Takenaka smirked, watching his boss lead the charge at the Fugaku, unflinching as more and more cannon fire was aimed at him, scattering his men everywhere. One finally seemed to hit him, and I felt an inkling of hope for Chosokabe and his men.

Looking at Takenaka with a smile on my face, I felt it drop at his own smile, my eyes moving back towards the battlefield without a sound.

The smoke from the cannonball cleared, revealing a large crater in the ground, Toyotomi standing in the centre with his arm outstretched, alive and very much unharmed. "One puny gun was the source of your hubris?" He yelled, easily stepping out of the bowl, "You're no warrior, no Ogre of the Western Sea, you're just a war brat!"

"What the fuck is he made of?" I whispered.

"Language, Sayomi." Takenaka half lectured, unsheathing his sword and raising it high, signalling the rest of the charge while Mori dropped his arm to indicate the same for his men. Within seconds, the Fugaku was surrounded, the men on the ground beside it forced to pull their own weapons out.

For the briefest second, it looked like it would be a bloodbath, but then, against all odds, the Fugaku began to move. Biting back a laugh, I finally noticed the large tread either side of the fortress, powering the machine onwards and forcing the allied men to scatter or be trampled. "As I expected, it can function out of water." Mori murmured, not even swayed.

"A more than welcome addition to our arsenal, if Motochika has wisdom enough to surrender." Takenaka agreed, only for Mori to butt in,

"Chosokabe will never submit to anyone."

"Yes, I'm well aware of his disposition." Even I nodded, knowing that the day Chosokabe came even close to allying with Mori would be the day when he had absolutely nothing to lose by it. Or the day one of them finally died and the other claimed the lands easily. It was really a case of what came first.

Some of the earth suddenly rose up, powered by Toyotomi's fist if I had to guess. Amazing as it was, it did little more than stop the Fugaku's movement, even as Toyotomi jumped up and returned to earth again, landing clear on the halted fortress. It shook greatly, and actually sent the back end flying up slightly before it came back down, definitely stranded this time.

A few seconds passed again, before legions of the foot soldiers and cavalry advanced on the Fugaku again, safe in the knowledge that this time, there'd be no surprises. Turning my face away and closing my eyes, I suddenly felt fingers cup my chin, Takenaka turning it back around, "This is no different from fighting for Oda, Sayomi. The stronger army wins each time."

Forced to open my eyes again, I tried hard to distance myself, only for the hand to suddenly jerk away, bringing me back to reality with a retching sound. Takenaka practically choked into the same hand, Mori commenting on it with a raised eyebrow, "Taken ill?"

"I'm fine…just a bit surprised." Wiping his mouth again, he indicated something in the distance, "There is a presence we could not have accounted for, and it's about to take the stage."

Looking at him funny, I suddenly froze at Mori's next words, "The Takeda of Kai. What do they mean to accomplish with so few men?"

Staring in disbelief, I tracked the red banners with every beat of their horses' hooves, the figure in the front charging with enough speed to cause his cloak to flutter around him, revealing his red coat and the two spears on his back. Next to him was someone all in green, running beside his horse.

Shaking with joy, I was unable to control my expression, stuttering laughs escaping me. But then the Toyotomi and Mori heard Yukimura's yelling and changed their course. The red was quickly swallowed, taking my hope with it, shredding it until it finally came bubbling out of me, "YUKIMURA, RUN!"

Whipping around in shock, both Mori and Takenaka were ignored as I continued screaming, "RUN! SASUKE, TELL HIM TO R-" Something suddenly caught my face, my feet fighting hard to stay steady, but eventually crumpling, Mori lowering his arm again when I shut up. Clutching the grass with my free hand, I glared hatefully at him, clamping my lips firmly together.

Akagawa was at my side suddenly, offering me his hand, face full of concern. Looking towards Mori displayed indifference, more akin to boredom actually. But Takenaka was seething, the red almost enough to fight back against the grey. Looking again at Akagawa's outstretched hand; I surprised myself by taking it, moving with the tug.

"Sayomi," Takenaka murmured, turning just so his face was visible, "Go back to the castle. Tell Mitsunari and Ieyasu that we'll be leaving as soon as I return." Nodding, I let my hand fall free from Akagawa's, stepping down the cliff with steps careful enough to convince my slow running mind that I was creeping towards Nobu's brew.

Somehow I managed to keep my dignity right up until I was slipping out of my sandals and into the castle, the thought of the village finally becoming too much. Halfway back to our rooms, Mitsunari came in from the pier, a spyglass in his hand. Wordlessly, he passed over a damp cloth. Taking it and pressing it to my face gratefully, I felt the sting lessen, even as he began leading the way back inside.


For me, the silence of the forest has lost its appeal. Any other time, I would have fled there; to be alone with my thoughts and prey, but it's just another prison for me now. But I stay, because leaving the forest means going back to my house, where Hanzo isn't, or Sayomi's house, where Ranmaru has locked himself into his worry, Itsuki hovering over him uselessly.

The walk to neither can provide me with peace. The Elder had told everyone to carry on as normal, but with the knowledge that the village had been found, that soldiers had tried to attack there, nobody can bring themselves to chat idly. Only the younger children can shake off their parent's concerns and giggle, skipping and play fighting their ways through the days.

Not even the deer that strays into my path is enough to rouse my spirits. Mechanically, I take an arrow from the quiver, pulling it all the way back to my cheek, breathing shallowly, detached as I release the string again.

The deer falls easily, making a familiar noise that's lost in my own gasp of pain, one hand shooting up to my cheek and dabbing it, hissing as my fingers are coated in blood. Staring at them with the same separation, I suddenly find Saburo at my side, his fingers moving swiftly in the all too familiar jutsu, while Chihiro and Asuka struggle with the deer.

Saburo's wearing his armour under his clothes, and Asuka is clearly hiding a dagger up her sleeve, and even Chihiro's eyes are less still than usual. It's clear to me that none of them are willing to risk losing another friend as a result of their own lack of preparedness.

Mizu Kobayashi, aged 20