Joy spread through the army of Oda upon Luciel and Masamune's return, she was unharmed and many were happy about this. With Kennyo in custody, there was only one they set their sights on for vengeance, Kenshin Uesugi. This meant clashing blades with the one that had helped Luciel get away, Shingen Takeda. This was unavoidable as he was the ally of Kenshin and he was not one to be taken lightly nor was his comrad Yukimura Sanada.
Tension filled the air knowing the coming battle would not be an easy one. There had been several skrimishes between the two armies, all of which had dragged out for many days and nights. This time however, they had another reason to fight Kenshin aside from unifying Japan, vengeance. The soldiers wanted to return the favor that was placed upon Luciel tenfold to their army and Nobunaga would see it be done. In the home of Luciel and Masamune anxiety filled the air, she knew he would have to go to battle and there was no guarantee of his return. Pulling her close to him and hugging her tightly he whispered," It's like I promised, I refuse to die unless you are there with me," he placed his head on top of her's in order to comfort her. Luciel nodded though she still feared what could happen. She didn't want to wait for him to return while worrying but she was not sure she could kill someone.
The sun was rising as Masamune left with the rest of the army, Luciel watching as they left for battle. As they passed her, each soldier bid her farewell though Mitsuhide had stopped for a moment," I doubt you will stay while we are away so here is a map to where we will be, it is up to you though. Maybe you will want to stay and wait all alone, that is your choice to make," with a grin across his face he handed Luciel a map and joined the rest of the army as they left for battle. Once the last soldier left, Luciel turned and went home to study the map.
Masamune who had watched the entire interaction stopped Mitsuhide for a moment," What are you thinking? Inviting her to her own death?" he glared at the other man as he asked his questions. Mitsuhide smiled at him, " Instead of having her wander when she decides what she wants to do I showed her exactly where to go. Wouldn't want her finding Kenshin's camp now do we?" as he asked a twisted grin spread across his face and he nudged his horse to continue on. Nobunaga hearing the exchange of words smiled knowingly as if he knew what would happen.
Inside the estate Luciel was still looking at the map trying to pinpoint where things were. The maps in her time were quite a bit different. She then saw a note scrawled at the bottom from Mitsuhide," Don't even think about joining if you aren't ready to pierce hearts with your arrows," she closed her eyes as she read his note. He was right to say such a thing, if she went unprepared to kill she would only be a burden to everyone around her. Though she only hoped to be the support of Masamune. She thought for a moment more and decided that she would do what was needed to help Masamune.
She changed into clothes suitable for archery, pulling on her specialized gloves for archery and removing her bow and quiver with arrows from the case they always sat in. Once she was ready, she took the map and went to the stables. There, she mounted Shadow and took off to join up with the army. She would not get there before the fighting would start but she would get there in time to be the support she wanted to be, she thought to herself. From the start of the battle, it was fierce all the way around. As the rest of the army contended with Shingen, Yukimura and their men Masamune did exactly what Nobunaga predicted, he went his own way in search of Kenshin. He would cut down those that attacked him but other than that, he wanted to find Kenshin. If he could take him out, the war would end and he could live safely with Luciel back in Oshu.
The battle raged on for several hours before Luciel arrived on the scene, at first she wasn't sure she could handle the sight of the dead bodies. Shaking her head and strengthening her resolve she rushed to find Masamune hoping he was ok. Seeing her on the battlefield Hideyoshi wanted to go to her and make sure she stayed safe. Nobunaga had put a stop to it," she came her for a reason just as the rest of us have. Let her do what she feels she must do, do not baby her. She wishes to help Masamune, so let her do just that otherwise you insult her honor," Nobunaga told him as they continued to fight the enemy.
As he watched her go, he realized Nobunaga was right. She was only looking for Masamune. With her mind set on him, he would only be in her way he thought to himself. He could only hope for her safety. He offered a silent prayer as he returned to his fight. As Luciel looked for Masamune a few soldiers tried to strike her down, not wanting to kill she took an arrow and shot it behind each leg to immobilize them. With some it took more than one arrow as some soldiers were just as stubborn as Masamune.
As the sun sank to the horizon, she spotted Masamune and Kenshin in a battle. The two were facing off pushing their weight against each other causing their swords to go between their bodies. Luciel bit her lip as she watched with worry and suspense. She didn't want him to get hurt but she knew in his mind he had to do this. The slashes of the two swords started once again once one of them broke the swords from each other. They did this in several circles, Luciel only watched the two not wanting to be a distraction to Masamune. Distractions caused injuries and in a fight like his that could become lethal.
As the two faced off a soldier creeped towards Masamune thinking to get an easy shot while he was distracted by Masamune. Noticing this, Luciel took an arrow in her hand and aimed at the man's back legs and hit him right at the joints of the legs, causing the man to topple over. Both Masamune and then Kenshin stopped for a moment seeing the arrow hit it's mark. It surprised Kenshin but it only made Masamune smile at the owner of the arrow. Kenshin looked at her bewildered. "A woman, on the battlefield..." he muttered as he looked at Masamune. That she had only immobilized the man did not escape notice.
"She came here only intending to immobilize, not kill. That is how someone gets killed," Kenshin informed Masamune. Knowing this all too well he shrugged," We are well aware of this, I am sure she is as well but I think she is here for support moreso than killing," he responded with a smirk as their swords clashed. Their fight was dragging on, as the sun started to set the two were reaching their limit in stamina. "Rumors seem to be true about you One-Eyed Dragon," Kenshin murmured. Masamune laughed in response," same can be said about you, god of war." Kenshin smirked at his remark and with a slash of the sword injured Masamune's arm.
Blood splattered on the ground pouring from Masamune's arm. For a moment he winced and held his arm but switched to his other arm and wanted to continue the fight. Though it put him at a disadvantage. As he seemed to finish the fight in his mind, Luciel nocked her arrow ready to let it go. Though to her surprise, Masamune found the strength to run to her side and stop her. "Do not do this Luciel, you will never be the same afterwards," he pleaded of her. She looked at him," I wanted to make it so he could only use one arm too, I didn't want him killing you," she admitted.
He pulled her off of her horse and held her close to him," You reckless girl, I could not finish the fight if you were to do something like that. I would rather get hurt then for you to risk your mentality by taking the life of another," he admitted in a hushed tone. Kenshin watched the two of them from the distance," I will let you go this time. I don't want to fight in front of a woman and I want you at full strength when next we fight," Kenshin informed Masamune as he sheathed his sword and turned and walked away.
As he left the battlefield his soldiers followed him, the battle was over for the time being. The oda army seeing this as a victory cheered and they too returned home. Hideyoshi and Nobunaga watched as Masamune and Luciel rode off together. Jealousy was read like a book on Hideyoshi's face," You were too slow to win her, so you lost." Nobunaga told him with a smirk spreading across his face. Grumbling, Hideyoshi followed Nobunaga back to the castle grounds. Most of the soldiers had to go directly to the infirmary, whereas, Masamune and Luciel went home so she could take care of his wounds herself.
Seeing the wound on his arm she winced thinking it looked pretty bad. "That bad huh?" he asked her as he looked over his shoulder a little. She inspected it a little to get a better idea of what she needed to do," I think it looks worse than it actually is, I will stitch it up for you though," she offered as she left him to sit there as she got the sewing kit. He smiled watching her as she returned to him with the kit. At first it was hard for her to do since she didn't like the sound of the needle going in and out of flesh but she got used to it as she continued.
Meanwhile, at the castle Nobunaga was looking at the adoption certificate he had taken out of Luciel's bag in the past, though he never put it back. He flipped it through his fingers and then looked at the date. A wide grin spread across his face," her birthday will be here soon," he said to himself causing Ieyasu and Hideyoshi to look at him. "I thought you put that back in her bag," Hideyoshi exclaimed in surprise. Nobunaga laughed and shook his head," I had to keep at least something about her. This just so happens to have her birthday on it," he told him with a grin.
Hideyoshi's face lit up," Masamune doesn't know does he? In that case we should be the ones to throw her a party instead. It will be her first birthday in our time so it should be something big!" he exclaimed rather excited. Ieyasu let out a sigh, not liking big events he was not sure he wanted to be involved in this. Nobunaga nodded in agreement with Hideyoshi. "What should we get her though?" Hideyoshi wondered aloud as he crossed his arms and stroked his chin with his thumb and finger.
Nobunaga chuckled at his excitement," I leave that to each person. Masamune will be told but we can't tell her, he will be the distraction while it is set up," he informed Hideyoshi while he was writing what looked like a letter which he handed to a man standing near him," Take that to Masamune but don't let Luciel read it and tell him she is not to read it," the man nodded at his orders and ran off to deliver the letter.
Once Masamune had received the letter he nodded to the man and muttered,"understood," and hid the letter away in his kimono. Like everyone else, Masamune was thinking of how to make her birthday wonderful. As she was practicing her archery, he went to the market and scoured the market for a replacement for the hairpin that was shattered when she had been abducted. He found nothing that piqued his interest until he found a shop that hid in a corner.
He walked up to the shopkeeper and asked about hairpins, he had pulled out several for him to look at. The one that caught his attention was a small lotus with butterflies surrounding it and drooping purple beads to match the color of the lotus. Masamune pointed at it and told him," I will take that one," the man smiled at him and nodded," I'm sure the princess will love it," he assured him as he placed the hairpin in a bag and handed it to him. Masamune paid the man, bowed and quickly made his way back to the estate so he could have time to hide her gift before she returned from practice.
For the next several days, his job had been to keep Luciel busy while the rest of the people prepared the castle for her birthday. Nobunaga planned to make it a grand party, as it was her first in their time and she would officially be an adult so he saw it as her coming of age. News of the party had spread throughout the town, though no one ushered a word about it when they saw Luciel. The people loved her as if she were their princess, so they too wanted her to have a grand birthday. Several citizens had sent in gifts for her as a way to thank her for her kindness. Every chance she had, Luciel had spent time with the people in the market a little at a time so she wouldn't become overwhelmed.
Finally the big day arrived, stretching in her bed as she woke a knock was on her door. Covering her chest a little she asked," Is that you Masamune?" she had a groggy sound to her voice showing that she had just woke up," It is time to get ready, Luciel. Lord Nobunaga has called for us," he informed her through the door. Confused she sat in her bed for a moment," alright, I will be out in a minute," she responded. Masamune thought for a moment and his same jealousy surfaced," don't wear the red kimono, wear the purple one," he told her with a hint of jealousy.
Luciel chuckled at his jealousy and wore that one as he asked to appease him, then she left her room and Masamune was near the entrance waiting for her. He smiled seeing her in the kimono. From behind his back he took a bag and handed it to her," happy birthday Luciel," he muttered to her. She blinked and had nearly forgotten that it was her birthday," how did you know?" she asked as she took the bag from him. He smiled," now that would be telling," he teased.
She opened the bag and took out the hairpin and let out a small gasp," it's so beautiful Masamune, thank you," she beamed happily as she looked at it. Masamune approached her, took the hairpin and put it in her hair. It matched her kimono perfectly and in Masamune's mind no one else could suit it like she did. Taking his arm that he offered her, he escorted her to the castle. On the way there, people they passed wished her a happy birthday.
Once they reached the castle, Masamune stopped Luciel for a moment and blindfolded her. "hey! what's this about? And how is it that everyone knew my birthday?" she asked Masamune, he leaned down and whispered," word travels fast," and with a smile he lead her into the castle to the main hall. There were audible gasps as they passed, people loved how she looked in her kimono.
"You can take the blindfold off now, birthday girl,"Nobunaga was heard saying. Without hesitation she removed the blindfold and was surprised at what she saw. They had gone to town and found lanterns meant for the summer festival and decorated the main hall for her. They filled the room with decorations, from flowers and lanterns to random ornaments from festivals, as she looked around in awe most of the generals wished her a happy birthday. Ieyeasu just nodded at her as did Mitsuhide. She was beaming happily," thank you," she said with tears of happiness. No one had done something like this for her before.
For the rest of the day, there were celebrations all over town since Luciel brought her party to the people of the nearby town to enjoy as well. The festivities went on until nightfall, many of the people generals included had gotten drunk and were slowly making their way home by the end of the party. Masamune however, didn't drink alcohol since he had no tolerance so Luciel had made tea for him despite his protests of the birthday girl doing anything.
As the two made it home, they spent more time together talking about plans for the future. He had not told Nobunaga that he planned to take Luciel with her when the war was over though she was pretty sure that he already knew. Before they went to bed, Masamune had made food from his home for her to enjoy, once they had finished they talked until dawn. After the sun shone through the window, when Masamune turned to her since she had gone quiet he saw that she had fallen asleep leaning against his shoulder. To his surprise, she fell into his lap and instead of getting up he removed her hairpin and let her sleep while he read a book until he too, fell asleep.
~Fin~