Chapter Thirty-Nine: The End of the Toyotomi


With the Chosokabe men acting as a rear guard (albeit, an unarmed one) it was laughably easy to get out of the main gate, the three soldiers still at their post staring after us long after we were clear, my fists flying into the air in jubilation, and Hanzo laughing hard as we pressed onwards, "Fucking ninja-proof my ass!"

"I doubt the architects had your determination in mind when they built the place, Hanzo." Master Katakura wryly smiled, his relief evident even in his voice.

But as we neared whatever destination Master Katakura was leading us towards, my smile turned false, eventually dropping altogether, "We're going to be seeing Masamune, aren't we?"

"Yes." The answer was short and simple, but he still elaborated, "However, this road has many others leading off it. I wouldn't find it too hard to believe that you followed the wrong one by mistake."

Staring at him, getting nothing more than the impartial expression of his profile, I thought for maybe a second. "I've got a pretty good sense of direction actually. There's no need to worry."

Sasuke would consider telling Yukimura anything but a full report blasphemy, and the Young Cub, good-hearted as he may have been, was not a man I would trust with my secrets. He and Masamune respected each other too much, and most likely sooner rather than later, something would slip out.

Pressing his chin onto my head, Hanzo hummed his silent agreement, one hand snaking around my waist to take its twin, my skin slipping into his glove naturally. I was still clutching it as we approached a rocky area, Master Katakura straightening in the saddle about the same time thousands of colours leapt into my eyes, the emotions running strong as he shouted for his Lord.

"Is that…?"

"Boss Katakura!"

Turning on the spot, Masamune was almost unreadable in expression, but inside, he was so relieved, it was a miracle he was still standing. "Kojuro." Pulling on Castella's reins to slow her down, I felt the Dragon move his eye onto me, and then onto Hanzo behind me. Slowly inclining my head, feeling the chin on it move with me, I managed a small wave with my spare hand.

Luckily, distraction came in the form of Master Katakura, who asked the other one eyed man in the vicinity if he was Chosokabe Motochika. "What of it?"

"A battle to avenge your death is raging in Osaka Castle. They are fierce, but they are few and need their captain."

"We had nothing to do with it, of course." Hanzo piped up, "At least I didn't." He pointed two accusatory fingers at me and Master Katakura, "But this pair was unsupervised."

Elbowing him sharply in the gut, I nonetheless smiled, especially as Chosokabe spoke, "Guess I got myself a pressing engagement. I've got to rescue my brave sons of bitches. I'll be at Odawara straight away." His attempt at seriousness vanished the second he and Masamune locked eyes, "Ah, who am I kidding?"

"You and I both know by the time you get there, I'll either be victorious or dead." As he spoke, Masamune was heading towards his horse, and even from my elevated position, I could see the reason why even at that second, Master Katakura was far from relaxed.

The crest on the back of Masamune's overcoat, the area usually guarded religiously by the Right Eye, was slashed through.

Pulling our attention away, Chosokabe gave his next statement, sounding oddly wistful for a pirate carrying an oversized anchor and wearing purple, "One Eyed Dragon, you'd best pull through."

"Aye aye."


By the time the horses were evenly divided, with most of the horses carrying two men to compensate for the imbalance, the sun was beginning to rise. But first, pressing business had to be addressed, "So Kojuro, what's with the strays?"
"Lord Masamune, allow me to introduce Kobayashi Hanzo of the Kodokuna sect." With his hood and mask in his hands, Hanzo gave a low bow, only straightening when Masamune grunted,

"Kodokuna? You mean that village on Oshu's border?"

"Yes, my Lord." Eyes firmly directed forwards, Hanzo spoke without any of his usual playfulness or laughter, as though he was delivering a report, "We've been there a few years now."

"You don't say." Musing on that, Masamune still dragged his eye over to me, the brow lifting slightly.

Thankfully, Master Katakura was still on hand, "You remember Lady Hiroto Sayomi?" Hands folded against my belly, I leant forwards, unwilling to meet his stare.

But when the One Eyed Dragon actually laughed, I looked up without thinking, "Honestly, after that bastard Matsunaga, I'm not surprised." Crossing his arms, Masamune looked over to his men, yelling out, "Hey Magobei, you still got that damned bird?"

"Right here, Big Boss!"

"Lord Masamune?" Master Katakura asked, his surprise as evident as mine when the smallest of Date's loyal gang came over, Talon's leash clenched firmly in his hand. "That's-"

"Talon!" Hearing my voice, the falcon let out a large screech, fanning his wings out as his hooded head turned this way and that. "Where did you find him?"

"The night Master Katakura was captured, your bird was tied to one of the poles." Magobei explained, transferring him over. "We didn't know who he belonged to."

Cooing softly to my bird and stroking his feathers down, I missed the other soldiers finally mounting up, Master Katakura indicating we should do the same. "Hey kid."

"Lord Masamune?" One foot in the stirrup, I only just kept my balance as he strolled over, asking one last question,

"How'd you get mixed up in all of this?"

"Takenaka Hanbei and my family have a kind of history." I murmured, withdrawing Sakura from where I'd tucked her into my robes, showing the blood across her side. "One he saw to cash in on, so to speak."

Understanding, he gave a curt nod, finally pulling onto his own horse and sharing a few words with Chosokabe, "Next time I see you let's duel out on the water. What do you say?"

"Sounds good to me! Course I'll be winning that one." Sharing a final smirk with his new friend, Chosokabe looked to the rest of his men and raised his voice to a shout, "Ahoy you sons of bitches, we're going to Osaka!"

And then, in a torrent of yelling and swearing, they were off, riding firmly across the terrain to rescue their missing men. The only one not watching them though was Master Katakura, who could only direct his words to Masamune's sliced back, "Forgive me Lord, I should not have never-"

"Save the apology." A hint of vulnerability within the One Eyed Dragon was displayed, if only for a second, his men catching it too, some bursting into tears, "Just glad you're back."

Seemingly unable to deal with all the emotion, Master Katakura was quick to revert to business, "Mori Motonari's fortress is closing in, and the Toyotomi will steal it. The rest of their army is heading for Odawara. The fortress and a hidden force in the North will utterly dominate the Kanto plain."

"Huh," Masamune considered, "Then we'll have to beat them to the punch seeing as we're badly outnumbered and all, that what you're going to say?"

"Precisely. Please, leave it to me." To immense confusion, he began turning his horse around, "I, Katakura Kojuro, will guard your back now and forever!" Staring after him in confusion, the likes of which was shared by the army around me, I didn't know what to do when Hanzo's hands departed my waist, his feet flying after Master Katakura,

"Hanzo!"

"Boss Katakura!" Making to turn Castella around, I was forced to pause by Masamune's voice telling me to stop,

"I figure that's one bloodbath we could all do without seeing." He murmured, adding a quick good luck towards the vanishing figures, and then calling for the final push towards Odawara, the men setting off in cheers. Seeing his point, I looked towards Talon, watching him fluff and groom himself, as much as he could through the hood anyway. "I figure since they're taking care of that problem, I'd better return the favour, otherwise I'll never be able to go near Kodokuna again." Staring in confusion, I saw a glint in his eye, and groaned in realisation.

"Itsuki told you…"

"First time we saw each other after Oda bit the dust, she couldn't stop babbling about this new guy in the village, and eventually I got the entire story out of her. Since you didn't seem to be making any trouble, I figured I'd let Kojuro have his secret."

No more was said between us until we hit the open plains, my eyes never leaving Masamune's back, tracing that long cut. You couldn't pay me enough to have been Takenaka at that point. Masamune's head snapped towards something lying on the ground, calling a complete halt to his men and dismounting to investigate further.

When their leader knelt by the body, several of the men followed him, listening to words being said in a voice I'd only heard yesterday. "Keiji?"

"If the only time you meet people halfway is when you're stabbing them, this war's never going to end. It's strange, I know, but just the tiniest things in common are enough to make you not want to hurt a man. People are good basically, I need to believe that." Resting a hand on the hilt of my sword, I wondered at his words, feeling like the next ones were directed at me, and going by the expressions of the army, I wasn't the only one, "I know you don't. But we keep taking lives like it's nothing. Why? Strangers, friends and lovers alike. Why her? Of all the people in the world?"

Looking towards my feet, and thinking deeply, I only looked up when Masamune added his own voice, even while he was getting to his feet,

"You stood your ground Flower Boy, and I respect you for that. Also, if you're saying what I think you're saying, then Toyotomi's as vile a bastard as I always thought." Mounting up, he carried on, "I don't know what kind of past you have with him, but if you try and tell me what a good man he was back in the day, save your breath."

Magobei and Bunschichi jogged forwards, beginning to kneel and try to help Keiji up, but stopped when their lord told them to, because in his words, "That vagabond had the guts to face Toyotomi with words, when no else would try. He'll stand when he's ready." Digging his heels into his horse's flank, Masamune carried on, forcing the rest of us to scramble if we wanted to catch up.

Keeping my eyes locked behind us, I felt my face fall, ignoring the similar looks on everyone else's faces, "Don't worry kid, that's the guy who thought he could reason with Oda and live. He might seem suicidal, but he's got a good head on those shoulders."

"I hope you're right."


We'd only just dismounted when the first few scouts noticed the approaching force, weapons leaving their sheaths within seconds. Only Masamune remained unaffected, not even drawing a weapon as he walked through the gates, even though his men around him were clearly uneasy, Talon even flying upwards. "Fucking coward!" I called after him.

Leaving the wakizashi for now, I stuck with the katana, gleefully positioning my hands properly on the hilt. Sakura was next to my heart, just south of where the pendant was cooling my skin. Today, the Hiroto clan would re-enter history's course.

"Well who do we have here? It's been a while, Mutton Chops!" Masamune called out to the clear head of the army, "How's about a rematch, winner takes all? You in?" His voice turned cocky, the typical Dragon hitting the heavens again, "Oh, and thanks for sending out your armies to conquer the country, because if I beat you right here, I get the whole ball of wax! And the One Eyed Dragon will rule the land!"

"You can fight me for the rest of time and still you would not win." Toyotomi called, silencing the Date's cheers before they could begin. Dismounting, he fixed his gaze on Masamune alone, striding forwards as he spoke, "You've nearly died twice now, or have you forgotten?"

"Guess you didn't have the skill to take me down." Masamune rebutted, preparing to draw his sword.

Swallowing deeply, I nudged Yoshinao, making him tear his eyes away for a second, "Would now be a bad time to tell your boss that Toyotomi parted the sea?"

"He what?!" Shrinking under the whispered yell, I managed a weak grin, thankfully getting one in return, "The Big Boss could still take him."

By the time we both looked back, both men were in fighting stances, sword and fists primed. Adjusting my own hands, I watched carefully, waiting for the charge to start. Suddenly, a huge gust of wind erupted from the pair, pushing against both armies with the force of any storm, joined by ominous black clouds that appeared from nowhere. "You will suffer the fate of any who defy me!" Toyotomi threatened, "For the sake of my future reign and this country I will make an example of you and take your head!" Toyotomi was near enough twice his height, had fists bigger than my head and the might to part a sea. Masamune's reaction to being faced with such a behemoth?

He calmly relaxed his stance, slipping the sword back into the correct sheath with utter serenity…and then with one lightning move had all six claws primed and ready to tear out the throat of anybody who dared face him. Honestly, the sight itself was enough to make me thankful for Gracia's plot that ended with me on Masamune's side.

Not so easily fazed was his opponent, "It seems you have risen above the little snake whose hiss was worse than his bite. However, even if you could wield a hundred swords and were at your very best you are ultimately nothing compared to me!"

"Yeah, yeah, I get you." Masamune said, his tone making it clear that he had a smirk on his face, "I didn't expect a party with a wet blanket like you to be fun." As he pulled his arms back, lightning began to dance along them, only increasing as he hissed out, "Because I really don't like you, so the quicker I get this over with THE BETTER!"

Lunging with all of a dragon's strength, Masamune almost moved too fast to observe. His first slash with the lightning created a huge burst of light that deafened us on the ground, and was not at all kind to the castle behind us. Ducking falling wreckage, the Date quickly put their weapons away for better manoeuvrability, all of them still trying to see how their boss was doing. Squinting against the flying dust myself, I finally managed to pick out two shadows, and seeing as one was the size of a house, I figured I was facing the right direction somewhat.

Only Masamune wasn't doing so well. Barely a second after I found him he'd be punched away by Toyotomi, and another wall would come crashing down. Trying to keep my eyes open was beginning to hurt, and I finally clenched them shut, hoping that my other sense would still work as it had done during Blind Man's Bluff.

It took a few seconds, but I was slowly able to pick out shapes again, moving with them to keep track of everyone, Toyotomi advanced on the blinding mess he'd just thrown through another wall, "Are you aware of what you lack now, One Eyed Dragon?" He called out, "If that eye can see how this country walks down the path of ruin-" Masamune was getting up, coughing into his hand even though Toyotomi was close enough to touch… "At least try to strike a return blow!" He'd recovered, but too late, Toyotomi's fist was closed around his neck, raising him higher- "If you would howl, then show that you have the strength to match it. The country I give shape to has no need of those who are weak. Those who lack strength, I will merely crush with my fists!"

"Sayomi, look out!" Turning my head in shock, with my eyes still screwed tight, I let out a sudden hiss, clutching at my arm angrily.

Opening just one eye, I took in the long gash, glaring angrily at the decimated wall that was now dripping with my blood. "Thank fuck Mizu wasn't here to see that." Ignoring the pain for now, I shut my eyes again, seeking out Toyotomi again, finding him in the same spot as before, this time holding Masamune by the skull. The yells of the Date caught my ears, and finding a whole crowd of them, I slipped into their ranks, feeling safe enough to keep a proper eye on things without bumping into wreckage from here on out.

Still holding Masamune like some sort of sick trophy, Toyotomi continued his preaching, "This weak country suffers a malady and I… My Toyotomi army will be the cure!"

Still increasing his grip, Toyotomi showed no signs of stopping, ignoring Masamune's grunts of pain. From where we were all standing, even my half blind state could comprehend the danger he was in, the worry only increasing as his helmet, the only barrier he had dropped to the floor useless. Here, Toyotomi finally dropped him, delivering a quick series of punches as he fell to his knees and then sending him up into the air, nearly killing Talon who was still circling us.

Leaping up himself, Toyotomi drove both fists into Masamune's stomach, making him drop with immense speed into one of the buildings still standing, which predictably crumbled, along with a good part of its neighbour. But he just back up again, still holding all six swords. He could barely stand, but he still lurched towards Toyotomi, finally collapsing at his feet. Opening my eyes again, if only to avoid seeing his true state, I joined the men around me in holding our breath, hoping he had the strength to get up just one more time. But just as he was trying to, a heartbeat echoed in my ears, resonating across my mind, even as I tried to look after its direction. It was out of synch with mine, and seemed almost…final.

"What are you day dreaming about over there!" Masamune yelled, once again on his feet if shaking. Thinking he was addressing me, I looked back at the fight, realising that Toyotomi's head had turned too, "You're having a stare off with a place you can't even see from here! Try paying attention to what's right here under your nose!"

"Again you howl rather than strike." Toyotomi scolded, his earlier distraction clearly forgotten as he again advanced on the One Eyed Dragon. "Certainly you'll have learnt your lesson and begun to regret being foolish to defy a mighty power without knowing your place!"

Forced into clarity again, I let my hands fly up to my mouth, unable to scream when Toyotomi grabbed Masamune mid stride, continuing to rant as he moved, "You want this country? You know nothing of a broader picture! That is the key to your downfall!" This time I did scream, shrilly too, but the Date men weren't any better, all of them watching their beloved leader get slammed into another stone wall, one that supported the entire Odawara fortress. The next punch shook the foundations further, large cracks travelling upwards at a speed which managed to induce another scream from my lips.

While the noise echoed around us, the castle fell completely apart, landing in a giant rubble pile before Toyotomi, whose hand was empty. "This is finally the end of one who lacks strength." He announced, lowering his fist. Swapping frightened faces with those around me, I knew that I was far from the only one paralysed as Toyotomi moved away from the wreckage, haloed by a blue aura that would fool any who didn't truly know him.

Wait a fucking…Blue?

As the light began to grow in strength, it decreased the very visible fear of the Date, which made Toyotomi whip round to face it fully, powerless to stop the six bolts of lightning from hitting the sky.

"Bontenmaru will become the One Eyed Dragon soaring the heavens." Magobei whispered, sharing an excited look with his comrades as his boss flew from the rubble, all but one sword crumbling under the strain, "That's what Master Katakura had written on his sword!"

"That sword you mean!" Samanosuke pointed out, shaking me in his glee.

Matching his men's smiles, Masamune shook his head like he hadn't just been through hell, continuing to irritate Toyotomi in his usual lovable manner, "Your lavender lackey's too scared to tell you the truth." He confided, "You're just not as strong as you think." Ignoring the warning growl from Toyotomi, Masamune gave the remaining swords a few flicks, his battle aura returning in an instant and propelling skywards, soaring into the heavens just as Magobei had predicted. His ascent pierced through the clouds over us, letting the sun return to the battlefield, and hit the blade fully which he wasted no time in pointing at Toyotomi, "It hasn't yet, but you won't get this country if it does kill me!"

"Are you saying that you would unify it then? At most you are the top ape in a pack of wild gorillas! What would you do with this country if you had it?"

"Doesn't matter, you won't be around to find out!"

"Pathetic fool!"

"Yeah, that song's getting boring," Masamune decided, still clearly unruffled by the major beating he'd took not five minutes ago. "Long as you know what you've got to protect, those things have a way of working themselves out, you see?"

"Under no circumstances," Toyotomi snarled, "Will I hand this country to the likes of you!"

Both men again primed themselves, Masamune announcing himself as was his habit to do, "Big Boss of Oshu, Date Masamune, full speed ahead!" Once again his battle aura overtook him, forming into a dragon's maw around him, allowing him to take to the skies and descend on Toyotomi and meet the punch aimed at him head on, the red armour of the gorilla's fist shattering as the lightning ran through it.

Pulling away, Masamune wasted no time in delivering a second strike, this time yelling something that escaped my ears as he and Toyotomi clashed again, the explosion from the collision not only blinding those of us watching, but destroying what little of the castle was still in one piece.

As the dust cleared, Masamune's sword was still pointed outwards, and his voice was tired as he spoke, "I can finally head on out to the real party." He said to Toyotomi's body, "The one that's been on hold thanks to you. The one…I've been…Waiting for…" Still wearing a smile, Masamune's strength left him at last, and he plummeted forwards, his men pushing forwards to surround him, trying to help him to his feet.

"It's over," I whispered to myself, looking towards Toyotomi's corpse. "It's finally over."

Shrieking loudly, Talon finally descended, coming to land onto my shoulder. His weight snapped me out of my dream, my fingers coming up to stroke him of my own accord. Enjoying the attention, he leant into the touch, preening cheerfully.


Merry Christmas everyone!