Author's Note: The battle is on! This chapter covers half of the game chapter 7, but I took the liberty of diverging from the script a bit. Really, how can the ninja princess not take part in any of the action? (Was anyone else bothered by this?) Reika's not a passive girl to just stay in the background and wait for the men to do all of the fighting. Enjoy!
Almost too soon, scouts from the mountains returned with the news that the Akechi army had begun to advance. We had to engage them before they made it to the village.
The combined forces of Yagyu and Iga attacked from the steep mountainside, sending arrows and bullets into the Akechi army below. Despite heavy losses, the Akechi army did not retreat. And despite my requests, Hanzo had absolutely refused to let me go out to join the fighting. So I remained at the encampment with him, doing what I could with supplying more arrows to the ninja close by. Goemon and Kotaro returned to the encampment, panting and sporting some light wounds.
"No matter how many we strike down, they just keep coming," Goemon explained. He pushed his shaggy red hair out of his eyes to wipe his brow.
"The enemy intends to stretch the battle out, relying on their numbers," Kotaro observed, looking grim.
"Where is Mitsuhide?" I asked anxiously. If we didn't end this soon, our side would sustain more losses and be even more at a disadvantage. Hanzo looked to Goemon as well, silently echoing my question.
"He is observing the battle from the Akechi encampment," he answered. "It's almost impossible to reach him with all of the Akechi soldiers." I bit my lip, thinking. We couldn't send a group to try to fight our way through to him—we were far outnumbered. Then I thought back to how Saizo had disguised himself as Lord Ieyasu when we had gone to rescue Hanzo from Oriku.
"What if one of us dressed as Lord Ieyasu and went to Mitsuhide to pretend to surrender?" I asked. Hanzo shook his head.
"Mitsuhide will want the surrender to be public. He also knows Lord Ieyasu too well—he'll know if it's not him. And we can't risk sending Lord Ieyasu in for that." I frowned.
"Then what about sending a disguised assassin?" I suggested. Goemon raised his eyebrows, looking impressed.
"That's actually not a bad idea, shortie," he remarked. I ignored his nickname for me and went on.
"One of us can dress as an Akechi soldier or scout, sneak into the enemy ranks, and make our way to Mitsuhide." Kotaro nodded, and I looked to Hanzo. He seemed deep in thought.
"Then I will go," he said after a while. Goemon immediately protested.
"Master Hanzo, I should be the one to do it," he insisted. Hanzo shook his head firmly.
"The soldiers have already seen you in battle. If you disappear suddenly, they'll be suspicious. They know you haven't been badly hurt. And I'll need you to keep them busy at the front so that I can get in."
He's sacrificing himself again, I thought with dread. It was the same as when he stayed back to light the fuse at Lord Ieyasu's mansion, and when he'd told me to escape without him from Oriku's inn. I took a deep breath and mustered up my courage.
"You can't go alone," I said. "I'm going with you." He immediately frowned deeply.
"Princess, I can't allow you to put yourself in such danger," he said.
"Then at least let me cover for you from the trees. I have my arquebus, and I'll be able to help you get away." He was already shaking his head. I felt blood rise to my cheeks. I would not allow him to throw himself into danger alone again. How could he expect me to stay back, sheltered and helpless, to passively wait when his life was on the line? I was tired of being just a symbolic Ninja Princess. I drew myself up to my full height. I felt my heart pounding in my ears as I stared straight into his eyes.
"Am I or am I not the blood descendant of the Kusunoki line?" He looked at me, a little bewildered.
"You are."
"Then, Master Hattori Hanzo of the Iga ninja, as the Kusunoki princess, I demand that you allow me to fight with you." Goemon and Kotaro were silent as Hanzo and I stared at each other. I didn't let myself look away. His expression was unfathomable, but his hands had clenched into fists. I could see the conflict in his dark eyes. Finally, he looked down and then inclined his head.
"Very well, Princess."
"…Thank you, Master Hanzo," I replied just as formally. He turned away and gave orders to Goemon and Kotaro to rejoin the fight and try to lead the enemy away. Akechi armor was retrieved from one of the fallen soldiers, and Hanzo began pulling it on. I pulled the arquebus off my back to make sure it was in good condition. My throwing knives were secure on my belt, and I silently thanked Saizo for taking the time to teach me how to use them.
"Princess." I turned to see Hanzo walk up to me. He looked down at me, and then cradled my face in his hands. I gasped in surprise, and looked up into his blazing eyes.
"I can't believe I'm letting you do this," he growled. I smiled up at him.
"You have always protected me," I reminded him. "I want you to depend on me more. I don't want to have to watch and wait for you as you risk your life for all of our sakes." As I said this, I felt a calm settle over my jangling nerves. A sense of relief, of rightness. This is what I've always wanted, I realized. To be Hanzo's equal, to protect him, to support him. I'd never felt comfortable with my role as the Ninja Princess. Despite being recognized by the ninja as the rightful princess and despite all of my training, I'd felt unfit, an imposter. And it had taken me this long to realize that I only had to move forward myself and take up the mantle to feel like I belonged there.
"You act as if you haven't helped me all those times," Hanzo said, looking pained.
"This time, I'll protect you," I whispered, putting my hands up to hold his. His thumbs smoothed over my cheekbones, and for a heart stopping moment, I saw his eyes flicker down to my lips. When he looked back into my eyes again, his eyes were resolved.
"Then we can't waste any more time."
...
Mitsuhide's encampment was behind the enemy lines as Goemon had reported, on a steep cliff that overlooked the valley. I held my breath as I watched Hanzo inconspicuously follow a group of three soldiers headed to the camp. I moved silently as I could through the trees, outstripping them and waiting closer to where Mitsuhide sat among his retainers. I watched as Mitsuhide slammed his hand down on the small table set beside him.
"What's wrong with those soldiers?" he snapped. "Even with our numbers, why can't they defeat those ninjas?"
"F-forgive us, my lord," one of the retainers pleaded. "The ninjas are incredibly organized. We would have never thought that the battle would be this difficult."
"Hmph! You're all pathetic. I want those ninjas defeated so that we can take care of Ieyasu." I allowed myself a grim smile. Master Yagyu's strategies proved to be working—the Akechi forces seemed to be in disarray. The group of soldiers, with Hanzo at the rear, saluted their lord.
"Lord Mitsuhide, we come with news from the front," one soldier began. Before he could go on, I saw Hanzo draw his sword and slash the man down. In an instant, he had slain the three soldiers. He shoved the dead soldier into one of the retainers. Before Mitsuhide could react, Hanzo had grabbed a spear and threw it with deadly accuracy. Mitsuhide stared down at the spear sprouting from his chest, his eyes wide in disbelief. As he fell, the remaining retainers fled, screaming. I grabbed my arquebus and shot two down, but the Akechi soldiers had been alerted. A large group of them began to converge on Hanzo. Before I could take a shot, an arrow came out of nowhere and grazed my neck, tearing at the flesh. I yelped in pain, and the surprise caused me to lose my balance. As I fell from the tree, I gritted my teeth and grabbed at anything I could to slow my fall. Thankfully, it wasn't a long fall, and I lay where I had landed, winded. When I put my hand up to my neck, it came back bloodied. I heard a soldier crashing through the underbrush towards me, and made myself stand. The soldier pushed aside the foliage and then paused, an ugly snarl on his face.
"A wench?" I scrabbled for one of my throwing knives, but a blow from the handle of his spear slammed into my side. I fell to the ground with a cry of pain, and he was on me in an instant, straddling my waist and cutting of my air with a rough elbow to the throat. I choked, struggling under his weight, and his snarl turned into a nasty grin.
"And a pretty one, at that. I'll show you what happens to women who interfere in men's battles." He dropped his spear to the side and grabbed at my collar, trying to rip it away. Fear shot into me and I renewed my struggles. He slapped me across the face, snapping my head to the side, and I almost saw stars with the pain. Blindly, still choking, I managed to find my belt of knives. Grabbing one, I stabbed it as hard as I could into his side. The man roared, rolling off of me. Before he could retaliate, I scrambled up and threw the knife with all of my strength. The soldier collapsed with a gurgle, the knife deep in his throat. I gasped for air, my lungs burning. I have to save Hanzo! My side throbbed, but I wasted no time and jumped over his body, leaning down to grab my arquebus where it had fallen out of my hands. I ran towards the camp. I gasped to see Hanzo surrounded by soldiers at the edge of the cliff.
"Master Hanzo!" I fired at the soldiers fighting Hanzo. He had already killed three of them, but the remaining two closed in. As I ran to get nearer, one of the soldiers slashed at Hanzo, opening a large gash on his chest. I bit back a scream as Hanzo staggered back and fired again. My shot downed the man who had wounded Hanzo, but I was too late. The remaining soldier turned with a desperate yell and tackled Hanzo, taking him over the edge of the cliff with him.
"NO! Master Hanzo!" I screamed, dropping the arquebus and sprinting to the edge. I saw nothing in the rushing river below, and screamed his name again. I felt like I couldn't breathe as sheer panic slammed through me.
"No…no!" I had to get back…I had to get Goemon, or Saizo, anyone… I forced myself to unlock my knees and move. My shaking hands picked up the fallen arquebus and I began to hyperventilate. I have to tell them…I have to get Goemon… I ran blindly through the woods, screaming for Goemon, not caring if any Akechi soldiers heard. It felt like I was living a nightmare.
"Reika!" A hand grabbed my arm, and I turned, my eyes streaming. It was Saizo, his eyes immediately intensely alert as he took me in. I choked, gasping through my sobs, and stumbled to him, my hands scrabbling for his sleeves.
"Master…Hanzo… Hanzo…!" Saizo gripped me tightly, his face full of concern.
"What is it? What happened to Hanzo?"
"He killed Mitsuhide, but…" I gasped through my desperate breaths. "A soldier… took him over the cliff edge…!" Saizo's eyes widened in alarm, and then he was hoisting me up onto his back to carry me.
"I tried…I tried…" I felt crushing grief begin to overcome me. I buried my face into the crook of his neck, sobbing.
"We have to get the others," he said, and we were flying through the forest. We reached Goemon, Kotaro, and Sasuke, standing in a clearing. Immediately, they were at our side.
"What's wrong?" Goemon demanded. "The Akechi forces have retreated. Hanzo and Reika must have succeeded." Saizo shook his head. I couldn't speak.
"Hanzo killed Mitsuhide, but Reika says that a soldier took him over the edge of the cliff with him." Sasuke gasped.
"We have to find him at once," Goemon gritted out.
We reached the river quickly, and the ninjas immediately dispersed to try to find Hanzo. Sasuke knelt beside me, his tears running down his face.
"Falling from such a high place…even Master Hanzo couldn't…" I stared at him, my shaking heart plummeting. I heard footsteps, and suddenly Sasuke was up in the air, hoisted up by the collar.
"Our leader will not die so easily!" Goemon yelled. I covered my face with my hands with a strangled moan.
I had failed. I promised Hanzo that I'd protect him, but I'd failed. I started to hyperventilate again, before a high-pitched call breached the haze of grief. I leapt to my feet.
"Hayatemaru?" I breathed. Goemon looked at me.
"You mean Master Hanzo's falcon?" I nodded. I heard the call again, and my legs were sprinting in its direction. I heard Goemon call after me, but I was running with all my strength. Hayatemaru must have found his master.
Please, please be safe, I prayed as I ran. I spotted the dark bird circling by the base of the cliff, and skidded to a halt under him.
"Where is Master Hanzo?" I looked to the water, and Hayatemaru landed on a rock to my right. I scrambled over the slippery stones to find Hanzo floating in the shallow water, caught against the sharp rock by his armor.
"Master Hanzo!" I rushed to pull his body out of the water. I got him to the shore and cradled his head on my lap. His chest wound was still oozing blood. I shook his shoulder gently.
"Master Hanzo, please, please open your eyes!" Tears blurred my vision. "Master Hanzo…" I heard Goemon and the others running towards us. I felt Hanzo stirring, and he coughed up water.
"Master Hanzo!" I sobbed. He slowly opened his eyes.
"…Princess?" I held him close, my tears flowing uncontrollably. The others reached us, and they were immediately at kneeling at Hanzo's side. Kotaro pulled off his jacket to wrap around Hanzo's chest wound. Hanzo looked to Goemon.
"The…the battle?" he asked with some difficulty. Goemon grasped his hand tightly.
"The Akechi retreated after you killed their leader. Iga is safe."
...
We made it back to Iga village, victorious. Hanzo was immediately taken away to be treated, and Doctor Rennoshin tended to the rest of us. I felt absolutely drained. The adrenaline had faded and my side and throat throbbed with pain. But it was nothing compared to the relief I felt.
Hanzo is alive, I thought over and over again. The strength left my legs, and I thought I saw the ground rushing up to my face before everything went black.
...
I paced outside of Hanzo's room, anxious. It had been a few days since the end of the battle. I hadn't been able to see him since then—the doctor had ordered rest for him, and he seemed to be otherwise busy with discussions with Lord Ieyasu. The door finally slid open, and I looked up to see Doctor Rennoshin.
"May I…?" I asked.
"Yes, you may." He smiled kindly at me. "Are your injuries better?" I nodded, smiling back at him.
"Thanks to you, I feel much better." The bruises on my side and neck remained, but the soreness was almost gone. All that was left of the arrow mark was a thin line on my neck. The doctor nodded approvingly, and then opened the door wider for me. He stepped out and gestured for me to go in.
I walked through Hanzo's sitting room and paused shyly by the entrance to his bedroom. He was sitting up in his futon, and his face lit up to see me.
"Princess…come in." I walked in and knelt at his side, my eyes searching his face. My chest throbbed. Finally, to see him awake and well…
"Master Hanzo," I said. "Are you feeling better?" I glanced at his chest, and saw a white bandage peeking out from under his yukata. He took my hand and smiled.
"I'm fine," he said. "But more importantly, I have to thank you for saving me." I shook my head, tears filling my eyes.
"I did no such thing," I whispered. "I failed to protect you. I couldn't get to you fast enough…" Hanzo squeezed my hand.
"You did. You shot the soldier who wounded me, and Goemon told me that you were the one to find me in the river." His gaze flickered down to my neck. "And you're hurt," he said, frowning.
"A soldier found me," I admitted, ashamed. "I wasn't able to get away fast enough." The tears spilled over. "And because of that, I wasn't able to get to you…!" Hanzo grasped my chin and pulled my face up to look at him. He wiped away my tears with his other hand.
"I am alive and well, and it's thanks to you. You didn't fail at all," he told me firmly. I finally nodded, and he let go of me.
"And I remembered our promise," Hanzo added. I sniffed and looked up at him, confused, and he smiled. "The battle is over, and I remembered our promise…Reika." My heart stuttered unevenly to hear my name on his lips. I smiled back at him, wiping the rest of my tears away.
"Thank you," I whispered. "I'm so happy that we're both alive and safe."
I left his room so he could rest and made my way back to my own, feeling lighter. The ninjas were safe; Iga was defended, and Lord Ieyasu would bring peace to the country. I had fulfilled my purpose as the Ninja Princess. The thought of Kashinji nagged at a small part of my mind, but I felt almost at peace with even that. Compared to the taste of what life might be like with Hanzo gone... I would spend the rest of my time in Iga as well as I could. The man I loved was alive, and my heart felt full.
In the next chapter: If you remember, Hanzo had something to say to Reika once they reached Iga and completed their mission... Now that the battle is over, what does Hanzo want to ask Reika?