Author's Games: Samurai

Battle Task Four: Tribute to the Fallen

music1or1books and ZSB2000, I love you guys and your characters so much, that since I can't write their deaths for you (that's your job as their writers and owners), I decided to write a snippet from MY characters POV, the ones that were semi-close to Hirotei and Ren as a sort of tribute to your characters. 

I was listening to the song See You Again by Wiz Khalifa off of Fast and Furious 7 and... I got tears in my eyes. Enjoy! :)

Hideyoshi rode hard and fast, rushing to reach Magoichi's village before it was too late.

My friend... my brother needs me. A dull ache formed in the center of his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Along the way, he heard rumors of something terrible:

"Asai Kyou-sama attacked the Imagawa clan. Rumors are, Imagawa Hirotei-san was killed in battle," a villager said as Hideyoshi rode passed.

He stopped and jumped off his horse, standing in the man's face. "Is this true?"

The man nodded. "Hai. My cousin fought alongside the Asai clan."

Anger gripped Hideyoshi's chest, but instead of acting upon it, he leapt back onto his horse, staring out at the horizon.

Mount Hiei loomed in the distance, towering above everything below. Smoke bellowed out from it, reaching up to the sky like lonely, broken hands.

Hirotei Imagawa-san is dead. Grief struck Hideyoshi's heart like a knife, reminding him that already one good friend had died. Why? It was a question that Hideyoshi had no answer for.

Hirotei had always followed Bushido with his whole heart. He led his clan faithfully, even better than his father before him. The young diamyo fought well, having almost no match in battle according to skill and strategy. He always did best for his family and clan, holding his people in higher regard than himself.

He, like me, had only wanted peace. Was the dream of a peaceful Japan so far out of reach? To achieve it, Hideyoshi wondered how many more good men would have to die.

If peace required Hideyoshi to lose all his friends, he wasn't sure he wanted it anymore.

I have already lost one friend. I only hope I can reach my last before he, too, dies.

***

Magoichi stumbled through the woods as the world twirled around him. I've lost too much blood, he thought.

On the road, several yards away, voices echoed loud enough for Magoichi to hear them. "Did you hear the news? The Sanada clan attacked the Hojo clan and lost. I believe Ren Sanada was executed this morning."

Never in his life had Magoichi felt love toward any woman, not sense she had died. Ever since then, he had slept with dozens. Ren Sanada was one he had pursued, but there was a strength inside her he had never seen in any woman before.

She reminded him of the woman he had lost, so he had ran from her, refusing to pursue her. After all, she secretly led her clan and would probably marry for an alliance. Or so Magoichi had told himself.

What held him back had been his own fear.

Fear that if he pursued her, he would lose her, just like he always did.

Now she's dead anyway.

Sorrow tore at his heart as he stepped closer and closer to his home. Already, the smell of smoke reached him.

I'm destined to lose everyone. Starting with Ren-chan.