It was Ieyasu and I versus the combined forces of Uesugi and Shingen, and the battle was at its fiercest--
Ieyasu's Vassal: "D-damn! Kenshin, it's not over yet--
Kenshin: "Don't interrupt me, things were just getting good." A few riders had approached to back me up as I dueled with Kenshin. What do they think they're doing?! They need to get out of here! But Kenshin cut them down like chaff. Soon there was just one man left alive. He seemed paralyzed before Kenshin. I yelled at him to try and snap him out of it.
Masamune: "Hey, you! Get out of the way! He's going to kill you!" The soldier started as if he'd heard me, but he just sat there, interposing his horse between Kenshin and me.
Kenshin: "Move." Kenshin swung at the soldier's horse. It buckled with a cry of pain. The soldier was violently thrown off. He hit the grass, and I didn't see him move. No! I was too late! "Ready to continue, Dragon?"
Masamune: "I'm ready to finish this. I won't let there be any more casualties."
The "God of War" Kenshin Uesugi. He's as strong as I imagined. My right shoulder, the place I'd been shot, howled in pain. It got worse every time I swung my sword. But I won't lose now. I won't let their deaths be in vain.
My eye fell to the bodies of the men around me. I'll defeat Kenshin and create a better future for everyone. That's the only way I can pay back the dead. The only way I can live up to my ideals Kenshin took a step forward. I readjusted my grip on my sword, ready to catch his strike. But--
I grunted in pain. My shoulder was burning, my sword as heavy as a lead weight. I couldn't feel my fingers through the storm of fire in my arm. My sword fell from my hands. Damn!
Kenshin: "Dropping your sword? You're as weak as a kitten. You'd better pick it up before you lose your head."
Soldier?: "Over here!" What?! Who said that? The voice was familiar, but I almost didn't believe my ears. Still, that fraction of a second the voice had given me was enough. I dodged Kenshin's strike and picked up my sword. My right hand was shaking, but I wasn't focused on that anymore. I know that voice. That's her voice! The heart-pounding rush I felt from battle died off as the blood in my veins turned to ice. Kenshin was staring down at the soldier who'd fallen off their horse.
Kenshin: "That voice. Are you a woman?"
Masamune: "It can't be--" I heard wrong. That's not her. There's no way she'd be here. Sweat trickled down my knuckles as I gripped my sword tighter, fearing what I'd see. The soldier got to their knees and threw off their helmet -- Silken hair came untied and spilled out over her shoulders. "Lass--!" Gd, Mai! It's really you!
Kenshin: "What is a woman doing on the battlefield?" What do you think you're doing here?! Mai stared at Kenshin. Her eyes -- I saw death in them. I suddenly remembered how strangely solemn she'd been last night.
Mai: "Give me your hand."
Masamune: "You want my hand? Here. How's my hand doing?"
Mai: "...Get some rest tonight. You're going out early tomorrow, right?"
------
Ieyasu: You're acting weirdly out of it."
Masamune: "Does Mai seem different to you?"
Ieyasu: "She's always been different. Or do you mean recently?"
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Ikémen Sengoku: Transcriptioned Romances Across Time (Masamune)
RomanceYou've just nabbed your dream job as a fashion designer when you're sent hurtling back in time to an alternate version of Sengoku era Japan! After accidentally changing history and earning the favor of warlord Nobunaga Oda by saving him from near...
