Chapter 17: Starting life anew.
The castle courtyard was once again thrown into a flurry of action as the Date army tried to get everything ready. At first most of the soliders had wondered what was wrong with their lord. They knew it was not normal for a male to fall for another male. They also wondered if it would bring about the fall of the Date Clan. The head general scolded them all over questioning their lord's choice and ordered that they prepare to march again.
Zhen, who did not like to stand around and not help, busied herself with other duties that the soliders needed doing. Tiger had quickly joined her sister, protecting her from the lustful stares of the other soliders. As the two continued to help, neither of them noticed Lu Xun and Masamune making their way into the courtyard. A few soliders bowed in greeting. "Tiger, Zhen!" Masamune called. The two bodyguard left their duties and bowed.
"Yes my lord." they choursed together. Lu Xun smiled warmly at the only two females in their lives. So far the pair had kept to their promise. Both had placed their lives on the line numerous times solely to protect their lords. Lu Xun knew he would have to repay both Zhen and Tiger for their selfless acts.
"I need you to be on look out. Tiger, cover the right side. Zhen, the left." Masamune paused and pointed to the top of the castle. "Go to the walk-way and keep an eye out." Masamune informed. Tiger nodded her head but Zhen looked up at the dragon in confusion. Both Lu Xun and Masamune noticed it. "Is something wrong Zhen?" Masamune inquried. Zhen bit the inside of her mouth.
"My lord, I can understand covering the right side as that side over looks the front of the castle. I know that Da Ji may attack from the front, however..." Zhen licked her dry lips. "...Why cover the left? Would anyone really be stupid enough to go round the back?" Zhen wondered. Masamune glanced over to Lu Xun who had stepped forward slightly. The red cladded warriors placed a hand on Zhen's tiny shoulder.
"Maybe Zhen. Just think if Nobunaga came or Hideyoshi. They would try to spring a trap on us." Lu Xun informed. Zhen mauled over the information quickly before nodding her head. Lu Xun smiled as he witnessed flashs of a new resolve in his bodguard's eyes. Ruffling up her hair, the red warrior then allowed Zhen to dart off to the left. Tiger took the post at the right.
--
As Da Ji and Sima Yi's unit got ever closer to the castle, Sima Yi's mind would not stop whirling with images. The former Wei warrior could not contain his excitment. Next to him, Da Ji yawned a little. The soliders were going to slow. She needed to kill something and quickly! Suddenly a foot-solider bowed in front of her. "What is it?" The demon fox asked. The solider licked his dry lips.
"My lady. Hideyoshi and a small unit have been spotted up ahead. They are blocking the the route to the caslte." The solider informed. Da Ji shook in anger causing some of the soliders to eye her nervously. Sima Yi cooly raised an eyebrow.
"Well don't just stand there! Forward march and step on it!" Da Ji screeched. The unit jolted into life and the solider's march gained speed quickly. Sima Yi glanced over to Da Ji, wondering if it was her fang that dipped over her lip or if the fox was actually foaming at the mouth.
--
Hideyoshi surveyed the land in front of him before a sound caught him off guard. The castle was just beyond the out-line of trees, the green Date flags still flapping in the breeze. The golden clad warrior tensed slightly, one hand on his weapon. His unit stood behind and in front of him. Da Ji and Sima Yi's unit burst from the bushes and surronded Hideyoshi's unit effortlessly. The Monkey cursed inwardly. "Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Da Ji cackled.
Hideyoshi glared vemonlessly at Da Ji. "Where is Lu Xun?" he spat. Da Ji and Sima Yi glanced at each other before a single thought entered their brain. It had become all too clear that Lu Xun had not told Hideyoshi anything. Sima Yi let a low and sly smile play on his lips.
"You mean, you don't know?" He chuckled. Hideyoshi stood firmly, glaring at his enemy with all his worth. Sima Yi tapped his fan against his fingers and chuckled again. "Are you trying to tell us that Lu Xun has not informed you of his plans to run away with Masamune?" Sima Yi mocked further. Hideyoshi's glare faltered slightly. Had he just heard right?Hideyoshi suddenly shook his head and glared once again at the pair in front of him.
"Lu Xun would not run away with Masamune! He went to Masamune merely to pull him away from Orochi's side! You have him so I demanded that you tell me where he is!" Hideyoshi yelled. Da Ji laughed harder this time as Sima Yi's grin got wider. Hideyoshi growled loudly. "Answer me!"
Da Ji stopped laughing and smiled slyly. "Attack!" She yelled. Her own unit charged further towards Hideyoshi. His unit charged as well, willing to defend their lord. The sounds of battle were loud in the still air.
--
Tiger jolted a little as sh heard the sound of battle. It wasn't loud enough to reach the courtyard but Tiger could pick it up none the less. The ninja looked over the stone walls. There was no sign of a fight but the forest was so thick...
Tiger eyes widened when Hideyoshi appeared from the bushes. He was closely followed by members of Orochi's forces. Tiger watched the monkey effortlessly slayed them before turning his sights to two new figures. Tiger slammed a hand over her mouth, stopping a loud squeak from erupting from her throat. Da Ji and Sima Yi moved in a deadly partnership, becoming a sort of demonic tag-team as they flew at Hideyoshi. Tiger ducked down out of sight and prayed to herself that none of the three saw her. The ninja slowly made her way to the edge of the walk-way and jumped down to the courtyard. The dust that rose in the air had no time to settle before the ninja ran towards her lords.
Masamune watched Lu Xun continued to stare at the sky. "Lu? What are you doing?" The dragon inquried. A small smile played on Lu Xun's lips as he stared at the sky.
"The sky looks so beautiful. Not a cloud anywhere." Lu Xun whispered. Masamune looked up. Lu Xun had been right. The sky was a light blue, without so much as a gray cloud. The sun was shining as well leaving a sense of happiness. "Just like our dream, no?" Lu Xun chuckled. Masamune shared his beloved's smile before spying Tiger's worried face. Lu Xun cocked his head to one side and turned to look at Tiger. Zhen had quickly join them.
"Tiger? What's wrong?" Masamune questioned his bodyguard. The wild panicked look in Tiger's eyes were seriously un-nerving the trio in front of her. Tiger pointed with a shakey finger to the front doors of the courtyard.
"Hideyoshi's unit is here. I believe he has a small unit, 9 members less then us. The monkey is currantly fighting Da Ji and Sima Yi who have a large force then him, 4 members less the us." Tiger informed. She tried hard to calm her nerves. She could not be a ball of raw nerves and emotions. Her lords and sister needed her to at least think clearly. Zhen squeaked in fear, reaching her bow. Lu Xun glanced over to Masamune who stalked towards the last unit. The head general bowed his head.
"Is this the last unit to leave?" Masamune inquried. The head general nodded his head. "Then leave, now! We don't have much time." Masamune ordered. A swirl of dust was kicked up as the unit ran out of the courtyard, the sound of pounding hooves fading into the distance. The only person left was a final member of the scouting party. Tiger and Zhen rushed towards their lord's horses to get them ready.
"Masamune? Do you...Do you think we'll make it?" Lu Xun suddenly asked. Masamune cast a saddened look towards Lu Xun. The tone that the said warrior had used had upset the dragon a little. Masamune nodded his head firmly.
"We'll make it Lu Xun. I promised you, Tiger and Zhen." Masamune took hold of Lu Xun's hand. "Come on, lets get a good headstart." The dragon smiled. Lu Xun returned the smile, allowing Masamune to led him towards their horses.
"Yes. There will be no point in dilly dallying around."
--
Hideyoshi clutched his wounded shoulder and ran. Behind him the few surivers of the fight continued their duty to protect their lord. Hideyoshi cursed a little as crimon liquid continued its trail down his arm. All the while, the information that he had learnt was turning in Hideyoshi's mind.
Lu Xun...ran away with Masamune? No, it couldn't be true...could it? Hideyoshi wondered. He glanced over his shoulder and sighed in relief when it was clear, neither Da Ji or Sima Yi were following. Hideyoshi turned his attention to the path ahead. He wondered how he was going to explain everything to Lord Nobunaga.
Meanwhile Da Ji eyed the flags that flapped in the breeze. Sima Yi joined her. "Proof they are still in the castle. What will our next plan be?" Sima Yi wondered. Da Ji tapped her chin with a painted nail and smiled.
"Set the castle on fire. Sima Yi, take some of the unit and go round to the back of the castle. They can only escape two ways." Da Ji laughed. Sima Yi bowed before turning his sight to the unit that stood behind them. He picked out half of the unit, leaving the rest for Da Ji. The unit left with Sima Yi leaving dust to rise into the air. Da Ji turned to the archers. "Set fire to the castle!" Da Ji ordered.
--
On the opposite side of the castle, Sima Yi watched as fire arrows flew through the air. As fire began to spread through the castle, Sima Yi chuckled to himself. He knew that when he spotted Lu Xun, the pretty little warrior would be captured without a moments pause. The smoke rose higher into the air and even the flags caught fire. Sima Yi's attention was pulled away from the fire when a solider bowed at his feet. "Yes?"
"My lord, you may want to see this. There are numerous hoof prints that may suggest the Date army has already left." the solider informed. Sima Yi blinked twice and looked down. Sure enough, clear as day, numerous hoof prints were seen in the ground. Sima Yi inspected them closely wondering how in the world he could have missed them. The prints were as bold as brass! Sima Yi felt his blood boil again.
Those brats have gotten the best of me for the last time! he swore and took off down the path. The unit became worried and tore after him. As the unit slowly and silently made their way towards their prey, Sima Yi told the unit of his plan.
--
Masamune tensed when a angry gut-wrenching scream was heard. He pulled the reins on his horse, ordering the beast to stop. Lu Xun did the same. "Masamune? We must hurry!" he called. Masamune frowned as he glanced back at the black smoke rising in the air. "Masamune."
The dragon turned back to look at the group. "Do you all remember the way to the castle?" he ordered. The bodyguards nodded their head. Lu Xun paused briefly before also nodding his head. Masamune turned to look at the scout member. "I suggest you carry on without us. If they do set a trap for us, the last thing we need is for you to be captured." Masamune ordered. The scout member nodded his head, bowed and took off into the forest. When Masamune was sure the member was gone, he turned his horse into another direction.
"So Lu Xun...what do you think we'll be doing once everything blows over?" Masamune asked off-handly. Lu Xun chewed his lip a little. Would any of it blow over? Would he and Masamune ever be at peace? Masamune glanced over to Lu Xun, a worried expression look on his face.
"I'm not too sure myself. I know that I want to bring peace to this era." Lu Xun smiled at Masamune. "Maybe we could. What do you say Masamune?" Lu Xun questioned. Masamune mauled it over for some time. It would prove to a differcult task. Masamune was no fool, a plan had to be made. The dragon glanced over to Lu Xun who smiled softely at him. But if it made Lu Xun smiled, Masamune knew he would go ahead with it.
Masamune caught the sight of Tiger from the corner of his eye and managed to yank on the reins of his horse. The horse whined as the beast came to a stop. The dragon noted how Zhen had also stood in front of both himself and Lu Xun. The two warriors looked at each other before dis-mounting. "Tiger?" Masamune whispered. A wave of panic washed over Masamune when both bodyguard's drew their weapons.
Lu Xun drew his sabers when he heard a rustling in the bushes. The feeling of panic grew in Masamune to the point where it made him feel sick. Then without warning, Orochi soliders burst from the bushes. They surronded the four causing Masamune to grit his teeth. "An ambush." he hissed. Zhen whimpered in fear but stood strong in front of Lu Xun. The said warrior's eyes darted around, looking for any sign of an opening.
None presented itself.
"Who sent them?" Tiger wondered out-loud. No-one was able to give her an answer when the Orochi soliders charged into battle.
Thank you to Angelus98 for her review.