Two days passed before I was able to find time to speak to Masamune about what Hanzo told me. It would have been easier to relay it through Master Katakura first, but something stopped me from doing so.
The matter was forced to a halt by a letter we received from Echigo. I was hovering in Ieyasu's office when it came, looking for something, and I only had time to glance a few characters before he was paling and tightening his fists around it, ordering me to call a war council. "Lord Shingen has fallen gravely ill." He whispered when everyone was present. "Command of the Takeda has passed to Yukimura, for the time being."
"Is he ready for that?" I asked, remembering the last time I had seen Yukimura. Command had been in his hands then, and he'd nearly faltered.
Silence met my question, answering it better than any words could have. Even Mizu, who had come up reluctantly from the archery range looked pensive. Eyes on Masamune as they were, no-one expected to hear her speak, "If what half of you guys have told me about Sanada and Ishida is true, they might seek each other out." When she realised she had our attention, she almost shrunk into herself again, but something stopped her, enough that her eyes darted to the side before returning to the map, voice getting stronger as she explained her reasoning.
Curious, I slid my gaze off the map as much as I dared, spotting what had caused the surge in confidence. And what I saw only proved that Masamune was both braver than us, and the right person for Mizu to turn to. It also had the effect of making me feel like an utter idiot. Feeling a weight leave my shoulders, I tuned back in just as Mizu was finishing up, Ieyasu nodding along with whatever she had been saying. Deciding to ask Hanzo about it later, I waited until Masamune noticed my eyes on him. When he did, turning his head slightly, to indicate attention, I gave him the smallest nod I could, mouthing thanks.
Whatever had happened on that mission with Mizu had hurt her dearly. People had misread what she wanted, holding her at arm's length to give her time they thought she needed; something that had been carried forwards to even now. And for some reason, she'd come to believe it too, turning it into rage or melancholy to push others away.
All it had taken was Masamune wrapping her fingers in his, someone showing they still cared, and Mizu had come back, however temporary it may have been.
"So, we can definitely rule out the Takeda as allies then." Hanzo scowled, "Damn, that Sarutobi guy seemed alright."
"I'll still go to pay my respects of course." Ieyasu nodded, ignoring our looks of general disbelief.
Magoichi looked like she wanted to say something, but then she just shook her head, going instead to point to Echigo, "Then Uesugi will need to be brought to our side, as fast as possible. With Lord Kenshin, we may also get the help of the Maedas, since Keiji's apparently taking more of an active role when it comes to ruling Kaga."
"Why do I get the feeling diplomacy won't get us very far this time?" I asked, receiving shrugs from everyone else.
Ieyasu's well meaning trip to Kai lasted longer than we thought it would've. Apparently Yukimura was still in a state of shock, but was still coherent enough to announce his attentions to side with Mitsunari. It was probably Ieyasu taking that so graciously that got him out of there alive.
We started preparing to head to Echigo, gathering supplies for the journey and setting up a supply line in case the campaign went on longer than expected. With Mizu recovering, it became easier to get her the things she needed for a bow, and until she was able to actually make herself one, we convinced her to take one of the spare ones, even though she complained her shots kept flying to the left.
Personally, I was surprised she noticed that much considering Masamune had made the archery range one of his stops during preparations.
Because we didn't want to be stuck in Echigo during the coldest time of the year, we were giving ourselves a couple of months before setting out, months I intended to use properly. "Come on, let me see…"
Yori resisted my efforts, tears streaming down his cheeks until Satoshi passed me the freshly drenched cloth, squeezing it out when I looked at him. Once it was safely pressed against his gum, Yori quietened to whimpers, wrapping stubby arms around me. Returning the hug as much as I could, I looked at Satoshi, pleading for help, "It'll pass, Botan. It'll take a while, but it'll pass."
"How long was I teething for?"
"I dunno. Not really something I stopped to ask Kazuki."
"No, your priorities were the booze and where Mother had hidden it." Chuckling around his (empty) pipe, Satoshi raised his hands.
"Not going to try denying it." Yori suddenly took the cloth off me to hold for himself, leaving me an arm spare to hug him properly. "Listen, I know you don't owe me anything, but can you do me a favour?"
"There's a lot I owe you." I whispered, fixing him with a look, "What do you need?"
Satoshi rubbed Yori's head, while the other hand plucked his swords from his belt. He set them between us, clearing his throat, "I know about that letter you sent the swordsmith. But there's no use for a sword unless you're going to give her a chance to use it."
"I'm classing that as a moment of weakness."
"Sayomi." His tone had changed to something I couldn't recognise, and I steeled myself for a lecture. Call it a Hiroto family trait, we could be as hypocritical as most politicians, but we knew how to lecture. "I don't care if it's because you don't think she's ready or you're scared of being Oda, but that kid knows how to fight. I'm not saying dangle her in front of the largest soldier you can find and say go for it, but at least give her the chance to choose for herself."
"It's not about her being ready." I whispered, considering myself lectured, "Don't tell me you didn't notice it."
Satoshi held my eyes, only breaking away to nod, "I noticed. And I've been teaching her to control it."
Before we'd gone to deal with Utsunomiya and Kotone had pushed herself away, whenever Kotone sparred with one of us, I didn't need my eyes to see her aura. I once said it was the sign of a great warrior, especially if controlled. The problem was teaching her that control, when I couldn't even be sure I had mine any more. But if Satoshi had been helping her… "Why didn't I feel it?"
"I took her out of your range, so to speak." Satoshi unhooked my grip on Yori, settling him on his lap and getting ready to replace the cloth again, "I'll stay behind and look after the kids. I'm not including Kotone in that."
My hands had barely grabbed the first scabbard before he was speaking again, "Check the practise hall, that's where I left her last."
Tucking both swords into my own belt, I stepped towards the door, halting before going through it, "Satoshi."
"Hm?"
"If she comes back with a scratch on her, I'll remind you of this conversation."
"You do that Botan." Giving him a curt nod, I stepped out into the corridor, barely getting five steps away before Yori was whinging again, Satoshi grumbling and dealing with him.
Like he'd said, Kotone was in the practise hall and taking a lot of frustration out on one of the dummies. When she brought the practise sword down on its neck, her entire body sparked, but it was gone as quickly as it came, the girl taking a step back to breathe before starting the assault all over again. Satoshi was right for once, she was ready.
Creeping up behind her, I cleared my throat, "Your swing's still a little heavy."
"It's the momentum."
"So it is."
"What do you want, Sayomi?" She huffed, turning on the spot. The sheer amount of rage in her eyes was staggering, but it faded back into soft curiosity when she noticed Satoshi's swords in my belt.
I tugged the bokken out of her now loose grip, replacing it with the steel, "You have to learn a few things before we set out. We'll all be on hand to help you though."
Her fingers closed around the sword properly, a look of serenity passing over her before it was punctuated with a smile.
Many times, I would look back on that moment, simply in thought, not in my dreams. I would dither on whether to cheer the scene or pull the sword away, pushing Kotone back to her childhood once more, and away from the storm she was going into. But one day, she would save not just my life, but several others, proving her worth as a samurai further than most who were born into the caste did.
No, I could never regret Satoshi's decision.
