Author's Games: Samurai

Sponsorship Battle Task: Asai verses Hojo

Clan 2: Kyou Asai

Kyou stared at the battlefield in disgust. Of all times to show up, the Hojo clan just had to pick now. He'd been on his way to meet with Oda-kun; they'd left two weeks after the rōnin attack. Isamu and Hiroshi had spent the two-week period frantically calling in favors to raise an army. He'd spent most of the clan's depleting funds on buying off the service of rōnin and hiring new swordsman who could attack with the horses Kyou had bought.

Now he had to deal with this at dusk when his men were still on the move but were tired from a full day of traveling. At least the other clan was camped and thus unprepared. "You think they'll let us pass?" Kyou asked Isamu.

"We're on their lands without permission," Isamu said. "So probably not... So much for moving an army in secret... That really was a dumb idea as I told you before you did it, Kyou-kun... But, being the baka you are, you didn't listen."

"Are we truly going to argue about this now?" Kyou asked, glaring at his half-brother.

"What's the use of making me your general if you're going to ignore my advice?" Isamu shot back.

"Now, now..." Hiroshi placated as he rode up. "You two shouldn't be fighting over something that has already happened. We need to be united if we're going to survive the coming wars."

The two hung their heads in shame. Hiroshi often seemed to be the smartest of the three brothers. He was the least likely to fight and the best at breaking up arguments between Kyou and Isamu. It was no surprise that everyone in the clan liked the good natured twenty-year-old.

"What's done is done," Hiroshi murmured. "We'll likely have to engage, but let us try to negotiate first."

***

Twenty minutes later the necessity of battle was determined when the previously still army across from them began filing out of their camp to face Kyou's forces. The brothers sighed in irritation.

"So much for negotiating," Isamu jibed, grinning.

Kyou rolled his eyes. Even though Isamu hadn't stopped Hiroshi from trying a peaceable approach, he hadn't really been hoping it would work. Isamu loved a fight more than any of them did, which was saying something because Kyou liked a good fight too so long as it allowed for unconventional fighting methods and strategies.

Isamu pulled out his kunai and put them between his fingers, urging his horse forward with his legs. He let out a wild shout as he charged toward enemy lines. They were still lining up, and Kyou immediately saw the point in Isamu's bold actions. His army was ready, but the Hojo clan's archers were still lining up.

The mounted swordsmen floundered a bit but held their ground. Kyou raised his tekko-kagi encased fist and shouted for his men to move out. The heitai roared their approval and charged. His mounted swordsmen led the way, crashing into the other clan's mounted heitai and knocking a few from their horses.

Kyou and the unmounted rōnin followed after as the mounted heitai carved a path for them. He came upon his first opponent with a grim smile and adrenaline rushing through his veins. The man's dark brown eyes met his, looking like black pits in the failing light. He was well-built and tall, but Kyou estimated that he was only eighteen: inexperienced most likely. However, Kyou wasn't one to underestimate an opponent. He stared his opponent down with cool distance.

"I'll let you run now and live, boy. Otherwise, you will die here..." Kyou shouted over the din of the battle. "Be wise; live to see another moon."