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"Shining Lord!"
The words echoed throughout the region. It was shouted by Chizu as she galloped across the bridge. It was shouted by the Ninja that she passed entering the castle. It was shouted by the archers before the let loose their volley of flaming arrows into the trench works. It was shouted by the soldiers as they marched across the field toward the enemy lines. The words filled the ears of the Shadow Hikiji and made them fearful. They filled the minds of the Inoguchi and made them think of what will happen to them if they are captured. But the words also filled the ears and thoughts of one man in particular. Masamune hadn't strayed from the top of the keep, even as his forces rallied as best they could to meet the attack. The bulk of his forces were in the trenches, as it was the exposed element of his line. And their numbers by then were so few that he hardly any troops to spare inside the Keep, or at the inner gates and the other defensive strongpoints. So he knew that Naishi would have an easy time pushing his way through them to meet up with Tomoe. The moment the gate was breached the war was over. He watched as the shadows below became locked in deadly combat. Watched as the larger invading force made swift work of those shadows, his shadows. And of course he heard the words. With each sword stroke, each spear thrust, arrow and musket shot, the words were shouted. And with each utterance another of his shadows fell. And with each fallen shadow another of Masamune's dreams fell with them.
Yasuhira heard the words too and they made him weep. Men were dying with his name on their lips. Men were slaying their brothers for him. He covered his eyes, and hunched forward in his saddle. And even as the multitudes of infantry and cavalry filed passed him he wept openly. It was Tomoe who came to him out of the darkness and touched his shoulder. She had no words of comfort. So she said nothing. She could only provide a gentle caress and a countenance of understanding. He took both willing and thankfully. Yasuhira roused his horse and soon he was lost in the mass of humanity that was his army and the frenzy of their charge into battle. He screamed with them and spurred ahead of their ranks. Of course he didn't shout his own name, but screamed theirs. He called out to the sons of Hikiji. He called out to the sons of Geishu. He called out to all the sons around him to end the war and bring peace to the world. He screamed until his voice had been worn through and he could no longer speak a word.
Kenichi was at the head of his men. He was becoming anxious, as he knew it was the final battle, moreover he was entering the fray on an empty stomach. His guts growled under his armour, which made him irritable. One of his Lieutenants, however, was a man blessed with a heart of gold gave him a cold rice ball. He wolfed it down, which he knew was the worst thing to do, but just as he was licking the last grains of rice from his fingertips an explosion rocked the world around him.
"Gods." He exclaimed, spitting some rice.
He heard Chizu first screaming the name of their lord, which was astounding, as they were some distance away. Kenichi quickly ordered his men forward toward their line of departure. There he set them into proper formation to cross the bridge and then break off into the castle grounds. Even in the gloom of the night, Kenichi could see Chizu's forces fighting inside the castle. They shattered the few paltry units set upon them and then set up a defensive line. Chizu rushed to the gate and waved the pennant that indicated they had succeeded in taking their objective. Kenichi drew his sword.
