Author's Games: Samurai

Battle Task 2: Yuudai Kato attacking Shiro Askura

Clan 14: Yuudai Kato 

Half of my men died in that one month alone... half! It will be only another mile before I get home and over a thousand women will weep over dead family members. Was it worth it? Was victory worth so many tears? Not only that, but I had to keep a large number of my dwindling

army at the newly acquired castle to protect it against attack. This mess is all my doing. I am the one who decided to declare war, and this is just the beginning. Soon, more will die.

My supplies are severely diminished and my men are exhausted. I am considering sending out a decree of conscription. By giving this order I risk an uprising in my own clan but what other choice do I have? Surrender? No, I can not do that after all that has been sacrificed already.

What would you do, Uncle Daiki? Did you ever have to face this hard of a decision? What am I talking about? Of course he did. He was Diaymo for years.

Maybe I should speak to my advisors when I return. I also need to find out what the interrogation has turned up. Maybe there will be some answers for me when I return.

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"Get everything unpacked Suko-kun, I will pay our prisoner a visit."

"Yes, Yuudai-dono."

Men bow respectfully as I walk past them until I reach the door that leads to our prison. Mitsuki is in rough shape. Her arms are bloody and her lip is split in multiple places. The interrogator stops mid-sentence when he sees me.

"Lord Yuudai."

"Has she said anything yet?"

By the looks of her, it seems like she hasn't; at least not today.

"No sir. But our spies overheard something that you might want to hear."

It was either good or bad news when it came to spies. These days it was bad news they favored most. The interrogator leans in and whispers.

"They say that the clans are getting stronger; much stronger. Their armies are growing at a rapid rate and they are getting more and more aggressive."

"Yes, I noticed the Sanada clan was much stronger than they were a year ago. This battle has diminished our supplies as well as our army. We need more men."

There is no need to talk to the advisors now for there is only one solution. Swallowing nervously, I give the order.

"Tomorrow morning send out a decree of conscription to all villages within our borders. As for the prisoner, you may leave. It is late and she is not going to talk."

"Yes sir."

From there I walk to the castle and into the gardens. The scene that greets me sends a wave of peace washing over my very soul. Between the full moon and the fragrance of the flowers, it is an orchestra of beauty. My uncle came here often when he was alive and it was a fitting place for him to die. A tear roles down my cheek unchecked. The dread he must have felt in his last moments was probably great. Never will I forgive myself for how disrespectful I was to him.

"You know, you where his favorite student," comes a gentle voice from behind me.

Suko comes to my side and places his hand on my shoulder. It feels like it was just yesterday when we were fighting each other for the grand title. These past few months feel unreal, like a nightmare that I can not be awakened from.