It was during a particularly bad phase of his disease he had for months now. Bedridden, Harunobu delegated his work to his successors and oversaw the lands of Kai as he was stuck home. Despite his bad state however, he was happy during that time. Somewhat at least. Chiyome's "solo acting", as who else would be sending these weird things to keep him afloat, was as concerning as ever. But hearing Kagetora push the Oda clan back as much as she did... he was glad he was a part of it, even if his original plans of beating Oda himself were derailed.
But then, the latest news arrived, and Harunobu felt a part of himself die.
"Nobunaga Oda and Kagetora Nagao have killed each other."
Hearing the news was like losing a part of his soul. Even as it aggravated his health, even if it meant death... he raged. The Tiger lost control and tore apart the entire base he was in. Unfair. Unbelievable. The last time he saw her, she was smiling at him as usual. She gave him some rice bags, patting him on his head, telling him to get better while she would deal with Oda. She promised to fight him for the spot of strongest warlord once she was done. The bright smile, looking forward to it. It was now gone.
By the end of it, his body was at the verge of dying. Regret. Sorrow. Emptiness. He stared at the sky, the stars dim now that the world lost such a great person. For a moment, he considered letting himself die. To stop fighting and join Kage. But then his duty called to him. His focus. The traits that Kage said that she liked about him. In an instance, millions of scenarios went through his head. The power vacuum that would ensure. The suffering it would bring.
If he didn't get his act together.
"Sorry... I'll be a bit late, Kage... "
Renewed vigor filling him, Harunobu allowed the healers to do their jobs, as he created plans to fix his homeland, to prevent it from being consumed by the madness of war...
/
Kagetora couldn't remember the last time she felt this terrible and great at the same time. Terrible in the sense that her body was never so beaten up before. Her mobility was practically gone, being down to one leg. The cracked rips and the inner bleeding she had to spit out certainly didn't help. She couldn't recall a single time Haru ever dealt so much damage to her. It was only natural. After all, up until now in their history, outsiders were forbidden. But now, those outsiders were the reasons of those injuries. The soldiers, the desperate, were nothing but flies to her. But even a small fly would be a distraction. In a high level exchange as theirs, it only made sense that the scales would tip to his side. Normally, she utterly despised people interfering. She thought she would be just as offended this time. But any dark emotions she thought she would have were not present. For a while, as she fought and bled, she wondered why. In the end, the answer was simple.
Haru. He was trying to kill her. His killing intent was pure, without hesitation. Not a fight until half death, so that they could do this again. No, he used every tool at his exposal, every trick he had, to kill her. In this moment... he was never so bright before. Her heart fluttered. Her cheeks heated up, ignoring her own injuries as she giggled almost drunkenly.
It was because of that, that she wasn't mad at the support she received from Oda, as the occasional stray shot took down the enemies that weren't Haru. While it did hurt her pride, she could only response to Haru's willingness to use outsiders with her own willingness. Not that she would ever admit that Oda was helping her. She was arrogant enough as she was. The beating she was getting, from what Kagetora could see, was exactly what she needed to be knocked down a peg or two.
By now, the interferences has stopped. The field around them was littered with bodies. Their blood was everywhere, not even the storm and rain could wash it away. The ground was red. Their own skin was covered with crimson fluids. Yet despite their ragged breath, despite their slouched posture... they only had eyes and smiles for each other. Never before have they felt more alive as they did now. Slowly, they walked towards each other. Kagetora, with a dagger in her hand, her other weapons long broken by now. Haru, his iron fan broken in half, but still working as a makeshift shank, his hair long lost its red color, the strength that came with it gone.
Even if there were survivors left, they wouldn't attack. In this instance, any more interference was forbidden, as their spirits made up for their weak physical presence. As the avatar of the divine mixed with the Spirit of Kai, Kagetora giggled a bit, causing Haru to laugh as well. This was their world now. Alone, only understanding each other. No more words were needed. Nothing more had to be demonstrated. This was how it should've ended, in both of their timelines.
Together until the end. An unspoken wish, maybe even forgotten by the years, would finally be fulfilled. Both of them took deep breaths. Then they roared, hoarse, almost pathetically. Their arms moved. One hand grabbing the others hand, pushing and pulling against each other. At the same time, they pulled their heads back and rammed them against each other. Looking deep into each others eyes, they showed their teeth as they grinned, while trying to push their weapon into the others throat. Suddenly, Haru kicked at her wounded leg. She screamed, dropping down. With her balance lost, he straddled her, pushing her down. But before he could stab her to death, he winced as his stomach wound worsened. That opening served more than enough to roll with the momentum, throwing Haru over.
Both lying on the ground, their energy spent, they still looked for each other, almost desperately. Only when they saw the other again, did their mood lighten. Crawling up to the other, they held the others hand. Supporting each other, they rose from the mud. It felt like eternity, struggling to raise themselves. But in the end, they leaned against each other, taking in deep breaths. Gently, they pushed off each other. Kagetora almost fell back, but she forced the last embers of her strength to remain standing. Twisting her body on one leg, she used hat force to ram her weapon into Haru. He did the same.
The sound of pierced flesh echoed in the air. A choked breath. Blood seeped out, giving their hands warmth in this cold storm. Kagetora closed her eyes, feeling them sting as she smiled gently.
A part of her knew it. Ever since they clashed when they met in this Lostbelt. That she was superior to this Haru. It only made sense after all. Unlike her, Haru was still alive. He didn't have the vessel of a Heroic Spirit. His legend, his myth, his history weren't empowering him like they did her. The fact that their damage was the same, even with the sacrifices he used, was evidence enough. Because of that, she only had a somber smile, as she removed her dagger from his stomach.
"Heh... so this is what a Heroic Spirit can do... " Haru muttered weakly, his weapon dropping from his hand. Kagetora caught him, gently laying him down on her lap, as she began to stroke his hair, softly staring at his face. He smiled, his eyes looking tired than ever. "Think I have that same weight when I join you on the throne?"
"Absolutely," she whispered, even as tears began to drop down on Haru's face. He nodded weakly, before closing his eyes, his body becoming more relaxed now.
"Yeah... this is good... "
Something was missing, Kagetora realized. Just a small detail that bothered her with this goodbye that she always dreamed of. Realization hit her and she snorted in amusement. How silly of her. Lowering her head, she brushed her hair aside. Cupping his face, her lips met his. It was a chaste kiss. She tasted his warmth, his blood in her mouth. Raising her head ever so slightly, she took some enjoyment at the small blush on his cheeks even as he was dying.
"I love you," she said quietly. He let out a snort, causing her to giggle at her own teasing. To make the first move in such matters.
"Heh... love you too... "
He closed his eyes and she could feel how his heart stopped as she touched his slowly cooling skin. As her tears flowed, she kept stroking his head. She would never be able to define her love for him. But did it matter? It was her love. No, their love. Labels had no meaning for someone like her.
The storm kept raging on, as she was lost in her world, almost able to pretend that Haru was just sleeping. But the cold couldn't be denied. The blood neither. Together with his army, Minamoto-no-Harunobu died at last in this timeline.
Footsteps, muffled by the mud, approached. She looked up, smiling as usual, even with her eyes sad and relieved at the same time. Her master carried the girl, Amako, with her, while the Shielder moved behind him. In their front was Oda, using a musket as a makeshift walking stick. She looked just as terrible as Kagetora did. Maybe even worse. Considering she 'merely' fought normal people, she was either disappointed at the warlord or impressed at the residents of this Lostbelt.
Maybe both.
"They fought well." Oda hissed as she popped her shoulder back in, while creating a makeshift sling with her now torn cloak. She sighed, reaching for her hat that was now missing. Instead, she rolled her eyes in exasperation before dropping down on the ground, wincing at her own wounds. "Actually thought I was gonna die a few times."
"Hm."
At her silence, Oda scoffed. Then her eyes turned to their master, who had a unreasonable expression on his face. The Fool of Owari bit her lip for some reason. In the end, she sighed before tilting her head with a frown.
"Master. Do you hate me?"
Ritsuka's eyes widened. But then, he bit his lip and lowered his head, a myriad of emotions running through his eyes.
"No, of course not..."
"I killed her," Oda said matter of fact. Their master snapped his head up, bristeling up. But a look at Mash, choking back a sob, Ritsuka slumped down, putting Amako down as he did so.
"A part of me wants to blame you... but what's the point?" A weak smile appeared on his face, self depreciating. "You did what you had to do. Something I should've done but didn't." He clenched his eyes shut before covering his face. "It's just... all messed up..."
"Don't start blaming yourself. Blame the damn Alien causing all of this."
As Oda patted his back, he looked up with a defeated look. In the end, he sighed, shaking his head.
"Easier said than done... "
They sat there, in silence, surrounded by death and the storm that just wouldn't let up. A part of Kagetora imagined it was supernatural by now. But she didn't much care, busy 'cleaning' Haru's face from all the dirt and blood that gathered, as gently as possible. Then however, Mash stood up.
"We... we should bury them."
Their eyes widened at those words. Even with her red eyes, she seemed determined enough to do so. Ritsuka smiled, standing up as well.
"Good idea, Mash."
"Master, do you know-"
"Nobu. Please."
At his pleading tone, Oda actually flinched for a moment. However, her expression grew cold as she pointed over her shoulder.
"We still have that tree to deal with."
"That tree won't go anywhere," Kagetora announced, stopping Ritsuka from speaking. She looked down at Haru, her smile turning sad. "I won't let his body rot away in the open like this."
She never quite understood the sentiment. Of burying someone. Especially in a world that would disappear soon enough. But the thought of just letting Haru outside, at the mercy of the winds... she didn't want that. Her equal, her rival, her beloved, deserved better. She shrugged her master's gratitude off before he turned back to Oda, bowing to her.
"It's the right thing to do."
In the end, the Fool of Owari sighed in exasperation.
"We're too exhausted anyway. Alright, fine." She scratched the back of her head, looking around. "Gotta find some shovels then."
They made do. Suffice to say, it took long. To dig into the mud, to gather the bodies. They were unable to make a seperate grave for each. Oda and Kagetora didn't exactly show any mercy to the supporters. In the end, they would be as respectful as they could be. But only two individuals had their own graves, at the front of the mass grave they had created. The four of them lowered their head sin respect, Mash and Ritsuka specifically praying with their hands clapped together.
"If only this would get easier…" Their master muttered. Mash held his hand in assurance. He sniffed before wiping his face with his arm. Turning to his servants, he put up a smile.
"Alright. Let's go take care of that-"
The storm stopped. The abrupt disappearance of the clouds, the cessation of the rain. The sun that shone down in an instant, from one moment to the next. To say that it was unnatural was putting it lightly. Their eyes went wide when it happened. Their bodies, tired as they were, the 'rest' not much of a rest, tensed up. But no matter how much time they would have been given... they couldn't be prepared for what came next.
It crashed down behind them, with the pressure of death itself. The amount of energy pouring out of it was far beyond what even Oda's monkey could exert. Not to mention its actual appearance. A metallic armor that seemed organic at the same time. Green energy pulsing through its black skin. Claws that would belong to a demon, a head that was similar to a snake. Fur that fluttered in the wind, almost hiding a familiar looking blade on its back.
And it was staring right at them, its demonic teeth widening as if it was smirking.