Ikémen Sengoku: Transcriptioned Romances Across Time (Masamune)

Masamune Date Eternal Route Chapter 13

Mai: "That's that sound!"

Masamune: "!" The eerie drum beat echoed across the quieted field. The remainder of Kennyo's forces ran as the heard it. Some kind of signal to retreat? It's got to be coming from whoever hired them!

Mai: "Where's it coming from, though?" I scanned the trees and hills for the source of the lingering echo; just then, Ieyasu and Mitsuhide came to join us.

Ieyasu: "I guess you both survived another battle. I wasn't sure Masamune would make it, since he's still recovering . . ."

Masamune: "Worried about me, lad?"

Ieyasu: "No. I just didn't want your death due to your own reckless stupidity to reflect on my skills as a physician."

Mitsuhide: "The direction our enemies are retreating — there's an inlet that way." The drum sounded again. Mitsuhide is right. The sound is definitely coming from over there!

Masamune pricked up like a cat with its fur on edge. His eye narrowed; he was ready to end this, here and now.

Mai: "What do you say, Masamune?"

Masamune: ". . . I say, hold on. Ieyasu, Mitsuhide, we'll see you there!" We rode off at a gallop.

Ieyasu: ". . . Wait! You're not thinking of taking this guy on alo—! Never mind. Of course he is. What was I thinking?"

Mitsuhide: "Lord Nobunaga and Hideyoshi will handle Kennyo. Let us chase after Masamune." With a low, throaty chuckle, Mitsuhide turned his horse to follow after them. "Oh, and in case you were wondering, Ieyasu, one drum suffices to call the retreat. The second drum was a signal. He is announcing his position to us."

Ieyasu: ". . . I know. You wanted to explain that obvious fact to Mai, but Masamune took her and went ahead — like an idiot."

Mitsuhide: "Masamune is aware that, due to his injury, he has been our enemy's focus. And he knows that our enemy will continue to scheme against him were he to sit back and leave the rest to others."

Ieyasu: "Okay, would you stop explaining things I already know? Again, I'm not Mai . . .  He took her . . ."

Mitsuhide: "Only to protect her. A dragon guards his treasure closely."

Ieyasu: ". . . Yeah, well he better protect her. He better keep her from doing anything reckless. He better make sure she's . . . !"

Mitsuhide: "Do you possibly wish you were guarding her in his place, Ieyasu?"

Ieyasu: "S-shut up. That's dumb. Why would I want that? Why are we talking? Let's just go . . ."

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We rode until the path split, one path leading down toward the seaside, where the hired men were running. From the higher path, Masamune paused to watch them.

Mai: "Aren't we going to follow his men?"

Masamune: "No. They're heading toward the inlet.  . . . But you can't see the battle from there. He was watching us from some place up high. And he's still there, waiting."

Mai: "Masamune, this guy. Is he—?"

Masamune: "Careful not to bite your tongue." It was a valuable warning. The path up the mountain was so bumpy I thought my jaw might rattle loose. As we broke through the thinning grass and emerged onto the cliff—

He awaited us with a challenging smile.

Shojumaru: "Welcome. Thought ya might show up if I gave you enough hints." He spread his arms out in a mocking gesture of hospitality. Masamune and I dismounted.