Sengoku Basara meets Samurai Warriors: The rise of the Toyotomi

Chapter 19

A/N: We are very close to the end. I plan around four to five more chapters and this story will finally be over. Afterwards I will start writing the sequel, so stay tuned!

Disclaimer: I don't own Samurai Warriors or Sengoku Basara, only this story.

Chapter 19: The biggest Fool

Kai woke up startled. Something had changed. She put on her robe and ran outside. As she passed Ujiyasu's throne room, she noticed that the doors were open. Ujiyasu was sitting on his balcony and petting one of the wolves. "My lord…", mumbled Kai.

Ujiyasu took a drag from his pipe. "We are starting war preparations first thing in the morning. The One-Eyed Dragon will soon make his surrender official but not before Hideyoshi's army approaches. Kotaro spotted them a three days distance from here."

Kai stared at him in disbelief. They were really going to war. And she would have to face Masamune. She looked down. She took a deep breath and then stared at Ujiyasu with conviction. "I'll tell the men to prepare for battle."

Ujiyasu didn't turn to look at her. He simply continued to smoke as Kai exited the room.

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Masamune found the whole ordeal ridiculous. He had to follow Hideyoshi's troop, but be far enough from them to seem like a separate army and approach them when they were close enough to be seen by Odawara's walls, so that he could formally surrender to Hideyoshi.

Hideyoshi had managed to turn the tables again, making him look like a fool in front of everyone. He supposed he kind of deserved it since he created the whole story with the fake signature, but still he hoped that his surrender wouldn't be so loud. And worst of all, right on her doorstep.

Kai would hate him. She was already growing distant due to whatever Ujiyasu had said to her, but with him surrendering to the enemy and right in front of Odawara, he was certain that she wouldn't want to talk to him again.

He sighed. That wasn't the worst of his problems, but he couldn't bring himself to acknowledge that. He looked at Kojouro. He was much better, but he was still very pale. He wanted to talk to him about his troubles, but he knew they would be met with distaste and dismissal.

"Something on your mind?", asked Kojouro, without looking at him. He supposed he actually was far more obvious than what he wanted to portray.

Masamune didn't answer and simply huffed. Kojouro chuckled. "You know, you can always ask Hideyoshi for an audience with the Hojo. That way, you can talk to her."

Masamune frowned. Too obvious apparently. "Even if I talk to the Hojo, I don't believe that Lord Ujiyasu will want to surrender."

Kojouro remained silent for a moment. "He will not force his people to join him. You can convince Kai to stay out of it. And Ujiyasu will support you."

Masamune chuckled. "Do you really believe that a stubborn woman like her will abandon her people to ensure her safety? She is a warrior, Kojouro. She is not going down without a fight and that's what I actually like about her."

The next words that left Kojouro's mouth, almost made him fall from his horse. "Ask her to marriage."

"What the hell, Kojouro?!", Masamune looked at him in bewilderment. "A week ago, you wouldn't want me to write to her and now you propose I ask her to marry me?!"

Kojouro sighed. "The reason I was against the whole thing was because you were acting like a fool about it and neglecting your duties. I can tell, though, you truly care about her. And we both know that I wanted you to ask her to marriage even before so that neither your or her honor was damaged. I would tell you to do it eventually, but the whole thing with Hideyoshi was getting out of hand and now here we are."

Masamune sighed. "It doesn't matter. Ujiyasu isn't going to let this marriage happen. He is going to be furious I even proposed it."

"Ujiyasu will accept.", said Kojouro. He looked completely certain about it too. "He will want to save Kai from the confrontation and by actually asking her for marriage you are saving her and proving that you are a worthy samurai for her."

"You're too optimistic.", said Masamune.

Kojouro sighed. "I suppose I want things to actually work in our favor for once. You have literally nothing to lose, lord Masamune. I suggest you try this."

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Three days after, Ujiyasu, Hayakawa, Kai and Kotaro were sitting on a high porch in one of the keeps that was built up on the hill in Odawara. The view allowed them to see clearly the Toyotomi army. They had prepared a small ceremony to celebrate the One-Eyed Dragons's surrender.

Kai stopped looking at the scene and turned to Ujiyasu. "What will you do?"

Ujiyasu was lying on his side, smoking his pipe and looking unbothered. "The boys are currently sorting something out." Kotaro smirked at that. It was obvious he knew something more. Ujiyasu took another drag from his pipe before he continued talking. "Still, I never thought the Date kid would side with the enemy. He's killed his brother, driven his mother into exile and now he's begging for forgiveness from Hideyoshi."

At that, Kai felt herself flinch and Hayakawa softly held her hand. They looked at each other for a moment and Kai allowed herself to take a deep breath.

"Well, this world is made for mad men.", said Ujiyasu, not bothered by Kai's reaction. "After all, this is the very man who shot his own father. He's, uh, ambitious to the brink of madness, I'd say."

Ujiyasu stood up and glanced at the enemy camp. Masamune was bowing to Hideyoshi and was offering his loyalty. Ujiyasu bent and his huge wolf that had been sitting on the porch and then sat beside him.

"If he discarded the vestiges of his sanity, it would be so much easier.", said Kotaro. Kai looked down and took another deep breath before looking outside again.

"Hmph.", said Ujiyasu, getting Kai's attention. "Hardship must be endured and a sense of right must be maintained, if victory is to be claimed in the end." He took another drag from his pipe, while he petted the wolf.

Kai nodded her agreement and Hayakawa's grip in her hand tightened.

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Kanbei was obviously disappointed with Masamune joining them. And considering the man was expressionless, Masamune considered understanding that a big achievement. Kanbei moved in front of Masamune with an air of superiority in his steps. Hanbei wasn't there because he was feeling unwell from what he heard and thus no one was there to calm Kanbei down. He was looking straight at Masamune when he spoke. "By the way, Kanetsugu, you were almost killed by a certain One-Eyed warrior in Echigo. And you as well, lord Yukimura have been attacked by the same man multiple times. If I were you, I wouldn't trust that man around me."

Masamune glared at Kanbei. This man was so insistent on getting him out of their army that he would say all this crap to make him look bad. He really had gotten under his skin with the signature trick.

"I have no issue that such an honorable and just man is joining our army.", said Kanetsugu with a serious expression. Masamune stared at him surprised.

"And I have cooperated with lord Masamune in the past in our fight against lord Nobunaga.", said Yukimura, equally serious. "I had no issue then and I have no issue now. We have a rivalry similar to what my lord Shingen and lord Kenshin have."

Kanbei's expression didn't change, but Masamune could feel his anger radiating off of him.

"Any spark that threatens the peace-", started Kanbri and his voice had grown louder.

"Kanbei, they said they are fine.", said Hideyoshi. Kanbei stopped and stared at his lord. "If our warriors have such a fiery spirit, it will be an asset to the oncoming battle. Besides, we have a land to unite.", he said while pointing at the sun with his fan.

Masamune allowed himself to take a deep breath. Kanbei looked at him with his usual expression, though it was obvious he was angry. "Since the One-Eyed Dragon is our ally now… Shouldn't he go to try to reason with the Hojo?", he asked.

Masamune's eye widened. He wanted to ask that himself, but the fact that Kanbei was the one to suggest it didn't stick right with him.

"From what I've heard, the One-Eyed Drago is very close with one of Ujiyasu's general's, lady Kaihime.", continued Kanbei.

Masamune could feel his heartbeat in his ears. He didn't know how to feel about the fact that Kanbei of all people was proposing something he actually wanted to do. Was there another reason other than simply a diplomatic approach?

Hideyoshi smiled. "I agree. You should go and try to change that stubborn lion's mind. We could make it work. Also give him that." Hideyoshi offered Masamune a letter sealed with red wax. "Don't try opening it before giving it to him.", said Hideyoshi and he smirked. "I'll know if you do."

Masamune simply glanced at the letter. "Yes… my lord.", he replied, very unsure about the whole ordeal. He then glanced at Yukimura and Kanetsugu. Both men were looking at him with uncertainty about the whole thing. He simply nodded at them, expressing his gratitude for their support. He headed to his tent. He needed to take Kojouro and head to Odawara.

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Kojouro seemed also troubled with the fact that Hideyoshi and specifically Kanbei wanted Masamune to go on to the enemy. "I can't understand whether there is a trap or not. And probably the answer to that question is in the letter."

"I can't open it before I reach the Fool of Sagami.", replied Masamune. The forest in front of them was very thick and they could barely make out Odawara's walls.

Suddenly, a huge bear appeared in front of them. Both Masamune and Kojouro froze. The bear looked at them and growled. It stood on its hind legs and growled at them in a threatening way.

Masamune took out all of his swords. "Weird. I've never heard about bears around here. I'll handle this."

He was ready to charge at the animal when suddenly a very familiar woman jumped in front of it, shielding it with her arms. "Don't you dare hurt him!"

Masamune's eye widened and he heard Kojouro make a confused sound as well. "Kai, what the hell?! Get away from that bear, it's dangerous!"

"Huh?! That's my baby boy, Bo!", shouted Kai annoyed.

Masamune and Kojouro both made a confused "Huh?!" Masamune then lowered his swords and stared at Kai with the most weirded-out look in his face. "Kai, that's a bear…"

Kai growled and approached him. "I know that he is a bear, you idiot! I found him when he was a baby a few years ago! Some idiot had killed his mother and I decided to adopt him! We were out on patrol because we were expecting you from what Kotaro's wolves said!"

Masamune was looking at her like she had grown a second head. She had come very close to him and she looked furious. "Is everyone in your army crazy and adopts wild animals for the hell of it or just you and your ninja?"

"Oh, shut up!", she said while crossing her arms.

Masamune shook his head. "A bear is a dangerous creature to be around and he could kill you at any minute, it would have been better if you had killed it back then."

Kai then proceeded to headbutt him despite him wearing his helmet. Masamune yelped in shock and held his head in pain. Kai looked like she hadn't hurt herself at all though. "See? I can be as dangerous and yet you haven't killed me." She then approached the bear that had stood back on all of its legs and jumped on its back.

Kojouro was staring at the scene completely dumbfounded. She is the only person that can tame lord Masamune, he thought.

"Come on! We don't have all day! Follow me, the greatest beauty in all of Kanto!" She said and she winked at Masamune while making a peace sign.

Kojouro simply blinked, while Masamune sighed and rubbed his sore head. "You are an idiot…"

Kai smirked. "You can't live without me though!" She then looked down and her expression turned sour. "We have a lot to discuss and I want to talk to you about something as well…"

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Hanbei had another coughing fit with a lot more blood than before. Kanbei immediately held him straight and wiped his face gently. His fits were worse than the previous days. "Do you want some water?', asked Kanbei.

Hanbei breathed slowly and nodded. That was a bad sign. He couldn't talk yet apparently and Kanbei clenched his hand on the cup he offered him. After the previous fits he could speak after a couple of minutes, but now he was taking significantly longer. He allowed Hanbei to have a moment to himself as he drank the water and he then stared at him with an unspoken question written in his eyes.

Hanbei smiled while wiping some blood that was left on his chin. "I can speak now…", he said in a very hoarse voice.

Kanbei nodded. "I sent the One-Eyed Dragon to negotiate with the Hojo.", he said.

Hanbei stared at him with a curious expression. "… You want him to lose his spirit, right?"

Kanbei looked away and took away the dirty rags they used to clean the blood. "What lord Hideyoshi is asking of the Hojo is something that will make all of them do so. I don't trust him, so I want to mentally weaken him."

Hanbei offered a tired smile. "How cruel of you…"

Kanbei ignored him. "When this fight is over, we need to start making plans about Korea."

Hanbei looked away. "… I don't know if I'll make it to that day… and you don't like that plan…"

"Don't say that.", said Kanbei. "You will see lord Hideyoshi ruling the land. And it will be because of us. As for Korea… I don't like it but with your planning abilities everything is possible."

Hanbei looked at his hands. They needed to be washed. They still had bloodstains. "… I'll try. But I can't make any promises…"

Kanbei nodded at him and went to fetch more water. He needed to get rid of all that blood.

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Yukimura looked at Kanetsugu with a curious expression. "What do you think is the plan for the Hojo? Sending off lord Masamune like that is a little weird, don't you think?"

Kanetsugu nodded. "Whatever is written on that letter is definitely something that is going to force the One-Eyed Dragon to behave accordingly. Kanbei is that kind of man and he definitely knows stuff about each an every one of us." He then looked at the third man on their group. "What do you think?"

Nobuyuki was looking straight ahead with a serious expression on his face. "Lord Masamune is a very confident warrior. When he lost in the battle against us, he was crushed. I don't know why Kanbei is trying to do more harm but he definitely is and I believe that the One-Eyed Dragon won't be able to face the Hojo in the end."

Yukimura clenched his fists. "I don't like the way they are trying to control us."

Nobuyuki looked away. Ieyasu definitely disliked it too, but he hadn't spoken to them about it at all. Things weren't going the way they hoped and that was going to change the relationship they had with lord Hideyoshi.

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Ieyasu looked at Mitsunari with a sad expression his face. "What do you want?", asked the King of Misfortune.

Ieyasu looked down. "Are you ok with what lord Kanbei did?"

Mitsunari looked away. "I'm not. And I'm not ok with the content of the letter either."

Ieyasu's eyes widened. "You know what is written there?"

Mitsunari turned around to leave. "It won't matter to you that much, but it matters to me." He clenched his fists. "I'm going to find Tachibana Ginchiyo to train.", he said and left Ieyasu on his own.

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Lady Nene jumped next to her husband. "They arrived without opening the letter.", she said in a monotonous voice. It was obvious that something was bothering her.

Keiji looked at her as she averted her gaze and felt his heart clench. "As expected.", said Hideyoshi while drinking some sake.

Keiji took a deep breath. "What on earth is on that letter? You are trying to weaken the One-Eyed Dragon's fiery spirit, so what did you ask of the Hojo?"

Nene stood up and left, not sparing a glance at either of them. Hideyoshi didn't seem bothered. "Considering the fact that he didn't surrender so far and the fact that he offered his son to the Uesugi, I asked for something similar so that we can end things quickly."

Keiji's eyes widened in shock. "… You asked him to offer one of the women in his army as a concubine!"

"And to deny the One-Eyed Dragon's similar request.", added Hideyoshi. "Or else he will be considered a traitor."

Keiji felt his blood boil. "Lady Nene doesn't deserve this! You could have asked for on of his sons to be kept as a hostage and-"

"His sons can't offer me an heir.", said Hideyoshi. Keiji looked at him in shock. "You already know that Nene can't have children. If I am to conquer the whole land I'm going to need an heir eventually. Hojo Ujiyasu has many daughters and a female general, so he can take his pick."

Keiji glared at him. "You could have Mitsunari Ishida as your successor since he acts already like you are his father! Or Kiyomasa Kato or even Masanori Fukishima, yet you want-"

"A biological child, yes! Keiji, I've already talked to Nene about it and she has come to terms with it."

Keiji looked away. "She didn't look like it.", he then turned around and left the Toyotomi leader alone.

End of Chapter 19

A/N: And it's finally finished! Late happy new year to everyone! A lot of stuff going on in this chapter and the final battle is approaching. The scene with Ujiyasu talking about Masamune's surrender is from the Samurai Warriors 3 game, if I'm not mistaken from Masamune's cutscenes and so is the scene with Kanbei and Masamune afterwards, though it is heavily changed. Also, the bear scene is also from the game and it's the very scene that made me ship Masamune and Kai. Till next time!