I guess Masa's past isnt the only painful one heh ;; I feel kinda bad for adding so much drama in this story x-x but bare with me, if you will.
Note: Past info, names and places are NOT accurate (sorry!) I just made them up, except for Yukimura's dad's name.
Forgive me, this part is short too. Next part will continue with Yukimura's and Shingen's past...
Part 3: Shingen's Past
Far away, in the comforts of his castle in Kai, Takeda Shingen had a talk with Sanada Yukimura about his plans for Japan. It was actually a daily discussion that the Tiger of Kai always gave to his young retainer. One met with an equally enthusiastic response and several punches, leaving the youth exhilarated afterwards when he went out to train. The topic of discussion this time was the upcoming resistance in the south, where their former allies during Oda's rein, Aki and Shikoku, now opposed the west. Fighting was also blooming out over the east, where a new tyrant was hoping to making his rule be known. The man's name was Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
All the fighting was actually putting Shingen on a strain. It was true that he was slowly aging with each passing day, finding himself caught unaware by some of Yukimura's sudden attacks. His strength was still monstrous, almost fatal-ing anyone on the receiving end who wasn't strong enough to recover from it. But at night, Shingen discovered himself alone, wondering what his life would be when someday he could not raise a fist to punch Sanada, or even hold up his weapon.
"Oyakata-sama!" That brash voice brought the Tiger of Kai back from his disturbing thoughts.
It seemed that Yukimura had decided to rush inside again to bother the man some more. Shingen had to chuckle at the boy sprinting towards him with blazing brown eyes, ready for anything or anyone who stood in his way.
"Oyakata-sama!" Sanada exclaimed, pausing three feet from where Shingen sat Indian-style on the ground. "I realize that our alliance with… the Date will be invalid after we declare war on the south and east!"
The man raised an eyebrow. "And why do you think that, Yukimura?"
The youth hesitated, sensing something was amiss. "We have not… heard from Masamune-dono in a while…"
"Stop making guesses, Yukimura!" Shingen roared, almost blasting Sanada away with the force of his voice. He rose to his feet abruptly, frowning at Yukimura in front of him. "Just because we have not heard from the Date boy for some time does not mean our alliance is broken."
"But…"
"If," Shingen continued, "he comes up here himself to say so, then it will be true. If he does not, why turn against the only ally we have at this moment?" The man smiled. "Do you see, Yukimura?"
Stunned speechless, Yukimura stared at his father-like lord in awe, eyes sparkling. Then he bowed low and with rough determination in his voice, replied, "Yes sir! Oyakata-sama, is there no end to my failures? Forgive me for being so insolent and not thinking!"
Only nodding wisely, the Tiger of Kai watched as Sanada quickly excused himself to go outside and continue his training. His eyes were proud as he observed the techniques Yukimura learned everyday as he practiced with his spears, the spears he wielded with honor and the spirit of Kai. Yukimura… do you know how proud I am of you…? Raising the boy since he was a child had been exceedingly difficult, though watching him now, Shingen was glad he took on the task…
_____
Flashback: 9 years ago.
Summer in Kai proved to be so boring that Takeda Shingen was forced to practice outside in the glaring heat of the sun. He used that monster strength of his to tone new skills with his axe-like weapon, swinging it around the backyard area of his home, startling any living, breathing creature within 10 feet of him. "HYAH!" Shingen roared and stomped the ground, causing earthquake-looking cracks to run parallel under his feet.
So engrossed in this daily activity, the man failed to notice that his young ninja apprentice in training had returned from a scouting mission. The boy was Sarutobi Sasuke, appearing scared for his life as he surveyed his master thrusting the enormous axe in the air with swiping motions.
"M-my lord?" Sasuke finally managed to squeak out as the dirt beneath the youth trembled from the force of power.
"HMM?!" Shingen practically shouted, not bothering to tear his gaze from training.
"Lord Shingen, there is someone at the door… requesting your attention."
"EH?" The bulky man glared at Sasuke, who flinched with fear. "Who is it?!"
"Someone by the name of Rizuki…"
Shingen's eyes widened in shock at the mention of the woman, and something happened that Sasuke would never be able to witness again in his entire life. His lord began to tremble strangely, staring at his feet. It wasn't the trembling of anger or pain… but fear. Whoever this Rizuki was, the Great Tiger of Kai was afraid of her.
"My lord, perhaps I should send her away…" Sasuke suggested nervously.
There was no response, then a rough, "NO! Invite her in now!"
Shingen turned on his heel, rushing back into Kai castle and in his room, where he paused to control his beating heart. "Rizuki… It's been awhile… I knew one day you would come seek me..."
The brief flash of long blonde hair, a flawless cheerful face, and smiling eyes. A petite girl dancing in the rain, beckoning for a certain terrified young boy to break the rules and come running outside to play with her. Another flash. The girl growing up, leaving the childhood behind, changing the boy's attitude towards the world, making him more bold and positive about life. Now, the roles had been switched and the young woman lived behind the curtain of her long hair, hiding her face and refusing to do anything that law forbad. Her deep brown eyes lost their glow and she submitted to a powerful warlord who would never love her as the boy had… instead, using her body for his own pleasures, twisting her mind and causing her pain. The one who truly loved her was pushed away, watching with a sick heart all the ways this woman, who had help shaped the very foundation of his life, slowly died away. He couldn't stand it… instead choosing to leave the town where they had both met, and never looking back…
"No, I will be fine. Where is your lord, my boy?"
The soft yet hoarse voice of a woman snapped Shingen out of his thoughts, and his heart began its rapid thumping once more. Try as he might, there was only so much he could do to make himself presentable (by removing his headdress) and slowly, he entered the living room where the woman was seated with her back to him.
Shingen first noticed that her lovely blonde hair was shorter and more ragged-looking. Her body was fragile and dangerously thin, and as Rizuki turned around, the dullness and plainness of her face caused him to reel back in horror. This could not be the bright and bold woman he knew years ago. The doll staring at the man was so ghastly dead that not even the glint of a soul could be seen in her eyes.
"Hello, Takeda Shingen," she murmured.
Beside her, the youngin Sasuke offered Shingen a curious smile, then proceeded to exit the room to play with his shurikens outdoors.
"Welcome… Rizuki…" the Tiger returned after a long pause. Dragging his feet as though in a sleeping stupor, the man settled down beside the woman.
"You are doing well?" Rizuki continued, attempting a forlorn smile.
"Perfectly…. You?"
He flinched, hated himself for asking that. There was something about this female that caused every nerve in his body to be on ends, something only she could invoke in him.
A thin lift of the mouth. "Lord Masayuki is content with me… for now, I suppose. He never treats me well, barely giving me enough food at times and… harms me every night."
The bitterness in her tone gave Shingen some hope. Maybe she realizes her mistake. Maybe there is hope-
"But I can… never leave him…" she continued, as though reading his mind. A tear fell from one eye, and she brushed it away, almost embarrassingly. "Forgive me, Shingen. You are probably wondering why I came all the way from Yamazaki to visit you here." Gentle and weak brown eyes met his gaze as she placed a soft hand on his lap. "Forgive me once more when I ask this… I do not deserve any favors from anyone, especially a kind man like you… but please hear me out."
Momentarily surprised by her touch, he then nodded. "What is it that worries you, Rizuki?"
The woman began by fingering a lock of limp hair, twisting it as she talked in a low whisper. "6 years ago… Lord Masayuki came home in a rage, demanding for me to get down so he could… use me… He was obviously drunk, and terrified, I consented. That night, he said in my ears, 'I want a child, our child… Rizuki.' Lord Masayuki told me how much he loved me, how much he cherished me…"
Shingen made a sound of disgust that went unnoticed by the half-entranced woman, lost in the haze of her past.
"A few weeks later, his wish was granted. I became pregnant with a boy… Sanada Yukimura. The lord was thrilled and everything was wonderful, at first. He treated me as he never had before, showering me with gifts and compliments, claiming that I was the most beautiful woman in the world to him. Most importantly, he never harmed our son in any way and for that, I was finally happy.
"Years flew by and slowly, I was determined to accept Lord Masayuki, believing that I had misjudged this man from the beginning. Then, one night, he arrived home drunk again, and started to bother the sleeping baby. When I told him to stop, he… grabbed the child and threw him against the wall…"
Rizuki stopped, sobs racking her thin body. Before he could stop himself, Shingen wrapped an arm around her, and she continued, though in a shaky voice.
"T-there was blood everywhere…. And I… was screaming for him to s-stop… even throwing myself in front of the child to protect him from the punches…"
Rage made Shingen clench his fists instinctively. If he ever saw Lord Masayuki again, there would be hell for him to pay. But Rizuki's watery smile and the comforting hand on his lap told him one thing. Don't, please.
"After that day, bruised and bleeding, I knew one thing… I had to get Yukimura away from that monster…
"I truly had no one to turn to as I ran through the forest, anything to put distance between us and Lord Masayuki… but he caught me as I was resting the next day. The punishment… was severe, though I didn't care as long as he didn't touch a hair on Yuki's head.
"One day, while I was out buying groceries, I came home to find my baby unconscious on the front steps of the porch, blood pouring from a slit on his forehead… Apparently it was another drunken rage. But I had finally had enough…"
Another pause as Rizuki's hands tightened, her eyes narrowing in silent fury. Finally, Shingen could see the dying flame struggling to burn inside of her again.
"That was when I thought of you… I know we have not been in contact for years, especially after you left Yamazaki… However, I could not think of another person, and on a night when the lord fell asleep after his daily dose of alcohol, I grabbed Yukimura and ran…" She smiled distantly. "Now here I am… and before you interrupt, Shingen, I must ask you this favor… Please, can you take care of my son? My duty will not allow me to leave Lord Masayuki, but if this continues, my son will be dragged down with me. So, I only ask that you raise the child for me as though he was your own…"
Having finished with her story and plead, Rizuki lowered her small head and refused to meet the Tiger's eye. The man, in turn, could only stare at his former lover with shock. Though in his mind, everything had already been set and determined, whether by fate or not, he knew he would take this boy under his wings, train him, grow to love and cherish him. Why? Because he was her son. Shingen knew without a doubt that he would do anything and everything for Rizuki and her happiness.
"Rizuki…" he began gently, lifting her head up. "Of course I will… You know that."
Tears streamed down the woman's face as she flinched away from his touch. "I am sorry, Shingen… Truly, I am…"
There was nothing he could do but try a wan smile, changing the subject. "So, where is this Yukimura?"
Pure elation filled Rizuki's features as her mind switched over to Yukimura. She stumbled to her feet, saying that she'd asked her son to wait outside while talking to Shingen, and she'd get him right away. The man cracked an actual smile this time, realizing how much this woman loved her one and only child.
"Here he is, Shingen," Rizuki called out, almost cheerfully, as she returned, towing a small 6-year-old boy in her wake.
Yukimura was stunningly cute and adorable in a way only he could pull off, brunet hair a mess on his head, brown eyes large and curious, observing his surroundings with intense interest. He appeared fit and healthy, albeit a little thin, though Shingen was sure a few days the child spent in his care would have him in perfect condition… But then the Tiger of Kai's stomach dropped as he noticed the raw-looking slash on Yukimura's forehead, and the way he gestured wildly with his hands, talking with his eyes and not his mouth…
"Rizuki…" Shingen said slowly. "Is the boy mute?"
Her pained grimace was all the confirmation he needed.
***