(Fic) Amaterasu, Part 8
Clad in his armour, he picked up the ringblade from the rack. Shiranui saw how stiffly he moved and whimpered. He shook his head and continued out the door.
Mitsunari's forces were already assembled and mounted. He caught sight of his own forces further back and headed towards them for inspection. When his soldiers saw him approaching, they muttered quickly to each other--no doubt surprised that Mitsunari hadn't killed him already--and then fell silent.
"The situation has changed," he said to them. "We will assist the Western Army. Our destination is Kanegasaki and our enemies are not human." He paused and added, "Fight with caution."
The soldiers muttered again, uncertain about his words, and some wondered why he was concerned about their well-being. He ignored them and returned to the middle, where he met with Mitsunari and Yoshitsugu.
"A horse is prepared for you," Yoshitsugu said, gesturing to the brown horse beside Mitsunari's black one.
"Shiranui, can you keep up?" Mitsunari asked.
Shiranui wagged its tail, then padded over to Yoshitsugu and put its paws on his palanquin, causing it to tip dangerously to the side, and the owner waved his arms at the unexpected shift in balance. Mitsunari rushed over and pulled the wolf away before it caused an accident. Motonari watched, amused.
"I'm afraid you have the wrong idea, wolf," Yoshitsugu said dryly. "I do not give rides."
"It was being smart," Motonari said. "Why run when it can fly?"
Shiranui barked and made to jump on the palanquin. Mitsunari grabbed it by the scruff of the neck. "Stop that!"
The wolf made that laughing noise and moved away, tail wagging. I was just joking.
"Hey, Wolfy," said a voice. "Having fun at Yoshitsugu's expense, are you?"
"Motochika," Mitsunari said. "You're back."
"I trust the message was delivered?" Yoshitsugu asked. "Have they told you anything about their situation?"
"They're converging on the area as we speak. It seems that the…blight over there is spreading faster than ours. I'm worried that they might not be able to handle it."
Mitsunari, of course, said nothing.
"We will deal with them later," Motonari said. "We can't delay any more."
The command to move out was given and the army started trickling out of the gates. Mitsunari and Yoshitsugu went ahead, while Motonari took his horse and led it towards his troops. Shiranui looked back and forth between them, eyed Yoshitsugu's palanquin, then decided to stick with Motonari.
Motochika kept pace beside him. "Hey, Mouri."
Motonari stopped.
"Ieyasu said that he wasn't the one responsible for the attack. Even though we found his standard there."
"Are you sure he wasn't lying to you?" Motonari started walking again.
"We were friends. And I'm starting to believe that he wouldn't suddenly turn on me like that. So, got another explanation?"
He hadn't thought of what to say, what kind of elaborate scheme he would have to lay down next, but he didn't need to. It just came to him.
He smiled and said, "Well then, it seems our enemy is smarter than we thought."
Motochika stared at him as if his helmet had grown a pair of eyes. Perhaps he shouldn't have given such an odd reaction. The pirate might suspect him now. But then Shiranui barked, and Motochika grinned.
"I doubt there's anyone capable of outwitting you."
"Perhaps I've found my match."
"Maybe." With that, he sauntered off to join his crew.
Motonari watched him go. This was his secret, and his alone. Whether or not Motochika ever knew the truth was up to him. And he could bear the weight of this little secret for as long as he needed to.
Shiranui tugged on his armour and glared at him.
#
Before the army reached Kanegasaki, they encountered the fringes of the blight spreading from the area. While the troops took a moment to rest, Motonari joined his companions on a rocky hill overlooking the ground they had yet to cover. He had never seen anything like it. It was like all the colour had seeped out of the grass and trees, even the rocks.
Shiranui, unfortunately, couldn't speak. Unless they knew for certain what was going on, all they could do was make a connection between the unexplained presence of evil spirits and the blight. Motonari remembered the terrible red-crowned monster they had fought. Could similar entities be emerging elsewhere?
They continued on their way. Their soldiers grew nervous as they entered the blight zone but pushed on regardless.
When they spotted the first of the clay soldiers, the army reorganized itself into the proper formation. Motonari ran the strategy over in his head again. Provided that they could deal with the tengu as soon as they appeared, it would spare their soldiers and everything should go as planned.
The army charged, and the clay soldiers were no match for their more mobile and intelligent counterparts. Their leaders didn't relax, scanning the sky for the tengu.
A shriek split the air. Something whizzed out of the sky and swept back up again. A row of soldiers, both human and clay, fell to the ground.
"Get back!" Mitsunari shouted. Yoshitsugu and Motochika retreated to a safer distance.
Wind screamed and Motonari shielded his eyes. The tengu was blown out of the sky and crash-landed into the ground. Shiranui barked and then streaked off, disappearing into the clashing army. It was going to intercept the other tengu before it got here.
The tengu shook itself and leaped into the air just as Motonari tossed a ring of light in its direction. Squawking, it dropped to the ground again, allowing Mitsunari enough time to make one cut that clipped all the feathers on one wing.
Motonari's shoulder burned with pain and he dropped the ringblade as he tried to swing it back over his head. He gritted his teeth and picked it up. Mitsunari and the tengu were locked in a vicious duel, sparks flying as their weapons clashed. The charm on Mitsunari's katana was glowing. This tengu was stronger than the first one.
The two were slowly moving towards a cliff wall. If the tengu got backed up against the wall, it was the perfect opportunity to trap it between two barriers.
He drew the first one. He was surprised to see that the barrier had changed colour--usually its light was green, but now it was pure white. Perhaps it was the weapon. The tengu didn't notice as he pushed the barrier a bit closer and started putting up another one.
Except his injury gave a horrible pang of pain and he dropped the ringblade again, clutching his shoulder. The tengu snapped forward and a piece of Mitsunari's breastplate went spinning through the air.
He had to get that second barrier up. Ignoring the tremendous pain blazing through his shoulder, he completed it, but as he tried to hold it in place, he simply could not keep his right arm outstretched and the ringblade clattered to the ground, the barrier dissipating.
The tengu lashed out. It was gaining ground and that would ruin the placement of the first barrier. Mitsunari had seen Motonari out of the corner of his eye and was desperately trying to keep it pinned against the wall. His armour was cracked in several places.
Motonari jumped as someone stepped up beside him and picked up the ringblade.
"Here," Motochika said. "I'll help you."
There was no time for argument. Motonari took the ringblade and laboriously drew another barrier. As he stretched out his arms to keep it in place, Motochika grasped his injured arm, supporting it.
"Mitsunari!" he yelled.
Mitsunari bolted towards them, passing harmlessly through the first barrier and leaping over them. The tengu barrelled right after him, blade outstretched. As soon as it cleared the first barrier, Motonari let go of the second one. Then Mitsunari grabbed him and Motochika, pulling them away before the tengu's blade struck them.
The tengu bounced back and forth, shrieking, feathers flying everywhere. Now that it was trapped, Mitsunari walked up and decapitated it with one stroke.
He turned back to Motonari. "Are you all right?"
Motonari glanced at him. "Worry about yourself."
Mitsunari bled from various cuts, none of them serious. This tengu was more skilled than the first one they had fought.
They heard a commotion further in the cliffs as soldiers started screaming. A huge red ogre burst towards the front lines, its face covered with a giant slab of etched metal and wielding two great pikes. Soldiers and clay bits flew through the air as it swept an arm.
A white blur shot up at its mask, striking it with a resounding blow. Shiranui somersaulted over the ogre's head and landed behind it, attacking its rear. The ogre turned, bellowing, and gave chase.
"After them!" Mitsunari cried.
The four scrambled to catch up, thankful that the wolf had led the creature away from the soldiers, minimizing their losses. The ogre was backed into a dead end, surrounded by high cliffs from all sides. As they got closer, Motonari saw Shiranui snarling and darting in front of the monster. Sparks flew from the ogre's mask, but Shiranui never actually made contact with its teeth or claws. Instead, the wolf moved as if it was using something on its back to make the blows. Motonari frowned and tried to get a closer look, but he couldn't see anything on its back.
"Flank the ogre," he said to Mitsunari. "Don't let it see you."
Mitsunari obeyed, streaking towards the creature.
Motochika hefted his anchor. "I'm going."
He dashed off before Motonari could tell him that his weapon might not hurt the creature at all. He and Yoshitsugu stayed back.
Mitsunari reached the ogre and struck one of its hoofed legs. The creature leaped far back with amazing dexterity and slid its mask up, revealing a hideous toothed face. It inhaled and breathed out a torrent of fire directly at Mitsunari and Motochika.
Shiranui leaped towards them and a ferocious breeze roared through the area. It was so strong that Motonari's eyes stung and he had to clap a hand against his helmet to keep it there. But the breeze dissipated the flames, allowing Mitsunari and Motochika to close the distance safely.
Motonari watched, trembling. Those two could have been burnt to a crisp. Beside him, Yoshitsugu assisted the fighters by shooting the beads at the ogre's mask to weaken it.
At one point, Shiranui broke away from the battle and ran towards Motonari, tugging at his armour.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked.
Shiranui drew a circle in the dirt with a paw and looked up at him pleadingly. A circle. It had something to do with his ringblade.
The ogre struck out at Motochika, who rolled away as the pike split the ground where he had been standing. Shiranui glanced over its shoulder, worried.
Then Motonari understood. The circle was meant to represent the sun. It wanted light, like what he had done in their battle with the red-crowned beast.
"I don't know how long my arm can hold out," he said. "You only have a few seconds at most."
Shiranui wagged its tail and bolted off to rejoin its comrades. A few seconds was all it needed. Motonari readied his weapon, waiting until the wolf reached the ogre. He flung the ringblade up, ignoring the pain coursing through him. That wasn't the worst of it. The worst was when he stretched his arms skywards. His whole body shook from the effort.
Shiranui's fur blazed with light and it hunkered down, its eyes focused on the ogre, preparing for one last strike.
I can't…Motonari squeezed his eyes shut. The agony was overwhelming him.
Shiranui lunged forward. Metal shattered.
He fell to his knees, clutching his shoulder and hissing in pain. The ringblade clattered to the ground beside him. He couldn't fight any more if he wanted to.
"Motonari, you have to stop," Yoshitsugu said. "You're bleeding."
He took his hand away. It was covered in blood and there was a dark stain on his shoulder. He stayed where he was and tried not to move.
Mask broken, the ogre teetered on its feet, then fell over with a crash. Its body vaporized into little specks, leaving a huge black spot on the ground. Mitsunari and Motochika joined their companions, and miraculously they hadn't suffered any injuries from the ogre.
"Strategist, why did you come?" Mitsunari said. His hands shook--he was trembling again. "You were in no condition to fight!"
"I had to. I'll be all right."
Motonari glanced over towards Shiranui. The wolf stood staring down at the black spot, and at its feet were a circle of flowers. Those hadn't been there before. Then he saw a vibrant green glow spreading out from inside the circle.
They jumped as a warm breeze blew around them. The glow intensified and burst out in waves, rushing past them out across the land. The lifeless grey grass perked up and flooded with colour. The light waves crept up trees, causing leaves and blossoms to sprout. Soon the blight was erased, leaving Kanegasaki in its former state. Even the air was fresh and invigorating.
Shiranui padded over towards them, tongue hanging out. They all looked at each other, then at it.
"Who are you?" Motonari asked.
The wolf wagged its tail. I'm me.
"I don't believe you." Mitsunari prodded it in the shoulder with the sheathed katana. "What are you hiding from us? Out with it!"
Shiranui sat down and lifted a leg to scratch its chin, rolling its eyes.
Motonari sighed and got to his feet. "Unfortunately, this is when being unable to speak works in its favour."
Standing up caused his vision to haze out. He stumbled and lost balance.
Someone caught him. "Whoa, Mouri. Stop pushing yourself."
"Unhand me." His vision swam back into focus and he pushed away from Motochika, reeling off in what he thought was the right way.
"Look at you, you can't even walk straight."
"I'll deal with him." Mitsunari grabbed Motonari and heaved him up into his arms.
Motonari shoved at him. "Put me down!"
"No. You shouldn't move." With that, Mitsunari started walking.
"I said--"
Mitsunari silenced him with a glare. Motonari decided to stay on his good side and grudgingly let him do as he pleased.
Shiranui barked and picked up the ringblade, scampering after them.
(Next part will be the last.)
Mitsunari's forces were already assembled and mounted. He caught sight of his own forces further back and headed towards them for inspection. When his soldiers saw him approaching, they muttered quickly to each other--no doubt surprised that Mitsunari hadn't killed him already--and then fell silent.
"The situation has changed," he said to them. "We will assist the Western Army. Our destination is Kanegasaki and our enemies are not human." He paused and added, "Fight with caution."
The soldiers muttered again, uncertain about his words, and some wondered why he was concerned about their well-being. He ignored them and returned to the middle, where he met with Mitsunari and Yoshitsugu.
"A horse is prepared for you," Yoshitsugu said, gesturing to the brown horse beside Mitsunari's black one.
"Shiranui, can you keep up?" Mitsunari asked.
Shiranui wagged its tail, then padded over to Yoshitsugu and put its paws on his palanquin, causing it to tip dangerously to the side, and the owner waved his arms at the unexpected shift in balance. Mitsunari rushed over and pulled the wolf away before it caused an accident. Motonari watched, amused.
"I'm afraid you have the wrong idea, wolf," Yoshitsugu said dryly. "I do not give rides."
"It was being smart," Motonari said. "Why run when it can fly?"
Shiranui barked and made to jump on the palanquin. Mitsunari grabbed it by the scruff of the neck. "Stop that!"
The wolf made that laughing noise and moved away, tail wagging. I was just joking.
"Hey, Wolfy," said a voice. "Having fun at Yoshitsugu's expense, are you?"
"Motochika," Mitsunari said. "You're back."
"I trust the message was delivered?" Yoshitsugu asked. "Have they told you anything about their situation?"
"They're converging on the area as we speak. It seems that the…blight over there is spreading faster than ours. I'm worried that they might not be able to handle it."
Mitsunari, of course, said nothing.
"We will deal with them later," Motonari said. "We can't delay any more."
The command to move out was given and the army started trickling out of the gates. Mitsunari and Yoshitsugu went ahead, while Motonari took his horse and led it towards his troops. Shiranui looked back and forth between them, eyed Yoshitsugu's palanquin, then decided to stick with Motonari.
Motochika kept pace beside him. "Hey, Mouri."
Motonari stopped.
"Ieyasu said that he wasn't the one responsible for the attack. Even though we found his standard there."
"Are you sure he wasn't lying to you?" Motonari started walking again.
"We were friends. And I'm starting to believe that he wouldn't suddenly turn on me like that. So, got another explanation?"
He hadn't thought of what to say, what kind of elaborate scheme he would have to lay down next, but he didn't need to. It just came to him.
He smiled and said, "Well then, it seems our enemy is smarter than we thought."
Motochika stared at him as if his helmet had grown a pair of eyes. Perhaps he shouldn't have given such an odd reaction. The pirate might suspect him now. But then Shiranui barked, and Motochika grinned.
"I doubt there's anyone capable of outwitting you."
"Perhaps I've found my match."
"Maybe." With that, he sauntered off to join his crew.
Motonari watched him go. This was his secret, and his alone. Whether or not Motochika ever knew the truth was up to him. And he could bear the weight of this little secret for as long as he needed to.
Shiranui tugged on his armour and glared at him.
#
Before the army reached Kanegasaki, they encountered the fringes of the blight spreading from the area. While the troops took a moment to rest, Motonari joined his companions on a rocky hill overlooking the ground they had yet to cover. He had never seen anything like it. It was like all the colour had seeped out of the grass and trees, even the rocks.
Shiranui, unfortunately, couldn't speak. Unless they knew for certain what was going on, all they could do was make a connection between the unexplained presence of evil spirits and the blight. Motonari remembered the terrible red-crowned monster they had fought. Could similar entities be emerging elsewhere?
They continued on their way. Their soldiers grew nervous as they entered the blight zone but pushed on regardless.
When they spotted the first of the clay soldiers, the army reorganized itself into the proper formation. Motonari ran the strategy over in his head again. Provided that they could deal with the tengu as soon as they appeared, it would spare their soldiers and everything should go as planned.
The army charged, and the clay soldiers were no match for their more mobile and intelligent counterparts. Their leaders didn't relax, scanning the sky for the tengu.
A shriek split the air. Something whizzed out of the sky and swept back up again. A row of soldiers, both human and clay, fell to the ground.
"Get back!" Mitsunari shouted. Yoshitsugu and Motochika retreated to a safer distance.
Wind screamed and Motonari shielded his eyes. The tengu was blown out of the sky and crash-landed into the ground. Shiranui barked and then streaked off, disappearing into the clashing army. It was going to intercept the other tengu before it got here.
The tengu shook itself and leaped into the air just as Motonari tossed a ring of light in its direction. Squawking, it dropped to the ground again, allowing Mitsunari enough time to make one cut that clipped all the feathers on one wing.
Motonari's shoulder burned with pain and he dropped the ringblade as he tried to swing it back over his head. He gritted his teeth and picked it up. Mitsunari and the tengu were locked in a vicious duel, sparks flying as their weapons clashed. The charm on Mitsunari's katana was glowing. This tengu was stronger than the first one.
The two were slowly moving towards a cliff wall. If the tengu got backed up against the wall, it was the perfect opportunity to trap it between two barriers.
He drew the first one. He was surprised to see that the barrier had changed colour--usually its light was green, but now it was pure white. Perhaps it was the weapon. The tengu didn't notice as he pushed the barrier a bit closer and started putting up another one.
Except his injury gave a horrible pang of pain and he dropped the ringblade again, clutching his shoulder. The tengu snapped forward and a piece of Mitsunari's breastplate went spinning through the air.
He had to get that second barrier up. Ignoring the tremendous pain blazing through his shoulder, he completed it, but as he tried to hold it in place, he simply could not keep his right arm outstretched and the ringblade clattered to the ground, the barrier dissipating.
The tengu lashed out. It was gaining ground and that would ruin the placement of the first barrier. Mitsunari had seen Motonari out of the corner of his eye and was desperately trying to keep it pinned against the wall. His armour was cracked in several places.
Motonari jumped as someone stepped up beside him and picked up the ringblade.
"Here," Motochika said. "I'll help you."
There was no time for argument. Motonari took the ringblade and laboriously drew another barrier. As he stretched out his arms to keep it in place, Motochika grasped his injured arm, supporting it.
"Mitsunari!" he yelled.
Mitsunari bolted towards them, passing harmlessly through the first barrier and leaping over them. The tengu barrelled right after him, blade outstretched. As soon as it cleared the first barrier, Motonari let go of the second one. Then Mitsunari grabbed him and Motochika, pulling them away before the tengu's blade struck them.
The tengu bounced back and forth, shrieking, feathers flying everywhere. Now that it was trapped, Mitsunari walked up and decapitated it with one stroke.
He turned back to Motonari. "Are you all right?"
Motonari glanced at him. "Worry about yourself."
Mitsunari bled from various cuts, none of them serious. This tengu was more skilled than the first one they had fought.
They heard a commotion further in the cliffs as soldiers started screaming. A huge red ogre burst towards the front lines, its face covered with a giant slab of etched metal and wielding two great pikes. Soldiers and clay bits flew through the air as it swept an arm.
A white blur shot up at its mask, striking it with a resounding blow. Shiranui somersaulted over the ogre's head and landed behind it, attacking its rear. The ogre turned, bellowing, and gave chase.
"After them!" Mitsunari cried.
The four scrambled to catch up, thankful that the wolf had led the creature away from the soldiers, minimizing their losses. The ogre was backed into a dead end, surrounded by high cliffs from all sides. As they got closer, Motonari saw Shiranui snarling and darting in front of the monster. Sparks flew from the ogre's mask, but Shiranui never actually made contact with its teeth or claws. Instead, the wolf moved as if it was using something on its back to make the blows. Motonari frowned and tried to get a closer look, but he couldn't see anything on its back.
"Flank the ogre," he said to Mitsunari. "Don't let it see you."
Mitsunari obeyed, streaking towards the creature.
Motochika hefted his anchor. "I'm going."
He dashed off before Motonari could tell him that his weapon might not hurt the creature at all. He and Yoshitsugu stayed back.
Mitsunari reached the ogre and struck one of its hoofed legs. The creature leaped far back with amazing dexterity and slid its mask up, revealing a hideous toothed face. It inhaled and breathed out a torrent of fire directly at Mitsunari and Motochika.
Shiranui leaped towards them and a ferocious breeze roared through the area. It was so strong that Motonari's eyes stung and he had to clap a hand against his helmet to keep it there. But the breeze dissipated the flames, allowing Mitsunari and Motochika to close the distance safely.
Motonari watched, trembling. Those two could have been burnt to a crisp. Beside him, Yoshitsugu assisted the fighters by shooting the beads at the ogre's mask to weaken it.
At one point, Shiranui broke away from the battle and ran towards Motonari, tugging at his armour.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked.
Shiranui drew a circle in the dirt with a paw and looked up at him pleadingly. A circle. It had something to do with his ringblade.
The ogre struck out at Motochika, who rolled away as the pike split the ground where he had been standing. Shiranui glanced over its shoulder, worried.
Then Motonari understood. The circle was meant to represent the sun. It wanted light, like what he had done in their battle with the red-crowned beast.
"I don't know how long my arm can hold out," he said. "You only have a few seconds at most."
Shiranui wagged its tail and bolted off to rejoin its comrades. A few seconds was all it needed. Motonari readied his weapon, waiting until the wolf reached the ogre. He flung the ringblade up, ignoring the pain coursing through him. That wasn't the worst of it. The worst was when he stretched his arms skywards. His whole body shook from the effort.
Shiranui's fur blazed with light and it hunkered down, its eyes focused on the ogre, preparing for one last strike.
I can't…Motonari squeezed his eyes shut. The agony was overwhelming him.
Shiranui lunged forward. Metal shattered.
He fell to his knees, clutching his shoulder and hissing in pain. The ringblade clattered to the ground beside him. He couldn't fight any more if he wanted to.
"Motonari, you have to stop," Yoshitsugu said. "You're bleeding."
He took his hand away. It was covered in blood and there was a dark stain on his shoulder. He stayed where he was and tried not to move.
Mask broken, the ogre teetered on its feet, then fell over with a crash. Its body vaporized into little specks, leaving a huge black spot on the ground. Mitsunari and Motochika joined their companions, and miraculously they hadn't suffered any injuries from the ogre.
"Strategist, why did you come?" Mitsunari said. His hands shook--he was trembling again. "You were in no condition to fight!"
"I had to. I'll be all right."
Motonari glanced over towards Shiranui. The wolf stood staring down at the black spot, and at its feet were a circle of flowers. Those hadn't been there before. Then he saw a vibrant green glow spreading out from inside the circle.
They jumped as a warm breeze blew around them. The glow intensified and burst out in waves, rushing past them out across the land. The lifeless grey grass perked up and flooded with colour. The light waves crept up trees, causing leaves and blossoms to sprout. Soon the blight was erased, leaving Kanegasaki in its former state. Even the air was fresh and invigorating.
Shiranui padded over towards them, tongue hanging out. They all looked at each other, then at it.
"Who are you?" Motonari asked.
The wolf wagged its tail. I'm me.
"I don't believe you." Mitsunari prodded it in the shoulder with the sheathed katana. "What are you hiding from us? Out with it!"
Shiranui sat down and lifted a leg to scratch its chin, rolling its eyes.
Motonari sighed and got to his feet. "Unfortunately, this is when being unable to speak works in its favour."
Standing up caused his vision to haze out. He stumbled and lost balance.
Someone caught him. "Whoa, Mouri. Stop pushing yourself."
"Unhand me." His vision swam back into focus and he pushed away from Motochika, reeling off in what he thought was the right way.
"Look at you, you can't even walk straight."
"I'll deal with him." Mitsunari grabbed Motonari and heaved him up into his arms.
Motonari shoved at him. "Put me down!"
"No. You shouldn't move." With that, Mitsunari started walking.
"I said--"
Mitsunari silenced him with a glare. Motonari decided to stay on his good side and grudgingly let him do as he pleased.
Shiranui barked and picked up the ringblade, scampering after them.
(Next part will be the last.)