The Affairs of a Tiger (OPEN)

[Yukimura Sanada]

"The Affairs of a Tiger"


虎の事務

1200HRS

Shikoku Island

Yukimura climbed down from his horse, either leaving a jingle as he swayed from the stirrups and onto the floor.. “So this is Tosa Province?” he smiled, it felt very homely. It was very small, and quite rural.. Almost backwards in comparison to Edo where Lord Ieyasu headed up operations. The horse was led off to the nearby stables by a boy, who Yukimura tossed a coin out of generosity. “Spend it wisely..” he smiled gratefully before receiving a pat on the head from the warrior.

It was a small town, no castle and no fortifications. It was clear that Shikoku did not see the pennies like the cities of the mainland. Most of the people were natives, folk who had lived here for centuries, possibly even millenniums. It was quite humbling.

The crimson-clad warrior waltzed down the main strip of the centre, their was fresh goods for sale.. Fish..rice.. And fruit. His stomach rumbled as he refocused on why he had made the journey in the first place. “Lord Shingen..” he muttered getting lost in the thought, and his orders.

“Excuse me, I’m looking for Lord Motochika..” Yukimura shifted from left to right in the main market square of the town, looking for the man known as “The Bat”. Most people responded but nobody knew where the man would be “you can’t miss him” bellowed a thick-armed blacksmith with more facial hair than his face could take. “Oh him? He comes and goes…” responded a woman mopping the floor of her sake bar.

Enthusiasm ran thin when everyone responded in the same matter, they knew him and of him but nobody knew where he could be found. Yukimura sighed, the baking Summer sun upon him. “How am I ever going to find this man, Lord Shingen?” there was a sound of an instrument in the distance. Yukimura didn’t catch onto it at first but eventually he noticed it, and how it changed his surroundings. He didn’t feel so disheartened so more.

“Such elegance..” his eyebrows raised, the player was talented. He followed his eardrums until eventually stumbling upon an odd looking man playing a metal shamisen. The man was aware of his presence but continue to play for a few minutes, until his melody had ended. “That.. was… beautiful..” remarked Yukimura clutching both of his hands honouring the man. “Truly you are virtuous musician..” like a child Yukimura’s eyes were as wide as the moon, as serious as ever.

“The Tiger of Kai was right..” he muttered. “You must be Lord Motochika.. It truly is an honour!”

[Motochika Chōsokabe]

"My Land, my beautiful Land."

     A slight snore could be heard coming from the large sakura tree on the top of the hill overlooking the small town. In the midst of the branches and petals a striking young man laid there fast asleep. It was none other than Motochika Chōsokabe himself. The leader of the Shikoku island, also named The Bat by a man that Motochika cared nothing for whatsoever. He had paid a visit to see how the people were doing, and to play some music for his people. Though, the main reason was that he had way more paperwork back home than he wanted to deal with right now. He knew he could count on his friends to deal with it just this once. They knew he needed his excursions to meet with the people and play his music. Otherwise he would probably go insane being cooped up in one place for so long. He had just played a long set in the middle of the town center and he was quite tired so he decided to go to his usual resting place. The place where he could hear the entirety of the city, be at the heart of it all. The hill that overlooked the entire village.

     Even though he was fast asleep, Motochika could hear the villagers go on with it's day to day activities. The small market seeming just as busy as the biggest city in all of Japan, kids running around playing tag, and old women gathered around gossiping about their old men. Motochika felt a presence enter the village that he knew didn't belong, and he opened up one eye as he looked in the general direction and saw a curious sight. A warrior covered in red was making his way through the village, stopping and asking random villagers questions. Curious, he sat up a little more, resting his head onto his hand and watched the stranger some more. He seemed to be looking for someone, and nobody would come out this far to look for a villager. The man was probably looking for him, so he decided to make his presence known. Pulling out his shamisen, Motochika began to play a beautiful song, it called out to people in a way that felt like a warm greeting. Like a mother calling her kids back home for dinner, Motochika called for the stranger to find him. He continued to play until he knew the man was coming towards him and made his way up the hill. He finished his song and jumped off the branches down onto the ground. With a grin, Motochika moved some hair out of his face and looked at the man. "Yo."

Words: 454
Tagged: Yukimura Sanada 

[Yukimura Sanada]

He wasn't the most conventional. Yukimura hesitated.. "yo?" how did he respond to that. He shook his head recalling his clasped hands. "Master Shingen sent me.." there was no relaxed part of Yukimura, it was ironic of the opposites before them. A man willing to doze off in the trees, and play as much music as his heart content.. and the other a man only content when fully committed to the way of the warrior.. willing to expend every ounce of energy within his body. "You are Master Motochika?" he still wasn't completely sure, it had been a guess.. and educated one but in all honesty Yukimura couldn't tell a scholar from a civil servant. He was a man of war, and he made his impact on the world with his blade.

The urgency in his voice, was disturbing at the least. There was always a priority.. always a need.. always a call to action. He didn't know how to slow down, or to relax. "My lord wanted me to give this to you.." the crimson-clad warrior reached into his armaments for a few moments before revealing a scroll to the older man, before bowing low as a sign of respect.. 

Motochika Chosokabe,

Blessings upon you and your family.

The cloud of evil, known as the 'Demon King' - Oda Nobunaga who dishonours our way.. the way of the samurai
intends to rule Japan.
His Western firearms, are truly weapons from Hell itself. Truly disgraceful. I pity him, and his clan.

I, Takeda Shingen propose we join our clans in harmony to preserve the Samurai way.

I appreciate these terms are bitter, however if you join me. I will support your clans claim to Shikoko.



You can trust Yukimura



Shingen Takeda

He didn't speak until he was certain the man was finished reading. The warrior rose, to observe the body language of the man.. just like Shingen had instructed.

[Motochika Chōsokabe]

     "Yes, you found me. Seems like I can't run from business forever, sadly." Motochika frowned, as he leaned back against the sakura tree looking this warrior up and down. He was indeed ferocious looking, even in speech he could tell the man before him was a mighty warrior. He thought it a little much for his friends to hire such a man to bring him back, and he was quite sad that his friends thought they needed someone like this to get him back home to work. He was about to say something when he heard the man's reason for being here. Shingen Takeda. A smile began to form on Motochika's face, that old man was still kicking? He met him once on a trip to the main land, and he looked old back then, he couldn't imagine how old he was now. Yet he still seemed to be very much alive and still roaring for a fight like always. "Sure, I will read it."

     Motochika read the letter as he continued to lean against the tree, as he read he hummed a tune, quickly going through the letter. He stopped everything for a second or two when he read the name Nobunaga, and his hands clamped down on the letter momentarily before he went back to humming and reading the letter. "Well, looks like the Old Man got himself into some trouble then." He handed the letter back and sat down, leg's crossed as he looked out towards the village. "First off, I don't know your name. Secondly, Great Warrior, I despise Nobunaga, my hands shake in anger even just thinking about him. Yet I just can't tell my army and advisers, "We are going to fight a man because I hate him." They need a good reason to want to go to war. Warriors who fight for a reason they believe in will fight harder than warriors fighting an unjust battle and they are just marching towards their deaths. You seem to be trusted by the Old Man, so what do you think I should do Young Warrior of the Takeda?"

     Motochika already knew the answer. He had been looking for an excuse to fight and slay that monstrous Nobunaga for a long time now. Now he finally started moving, first taking the fight to Shingen himself. Motochika and everyone else knew that if Nobunaga won there, not much could stop his momentum and sooner rather than later he would be in this very village cutting down the innocent townsfolk as he took over. So to protect his home, it would be the wisest move to send troops to hold Nobunaga back, if not stop his dream of conquest right then and there. The lives of his people depended on Shingen's victory, so no matter what Motochika would march with him, but he wanted to size up the man in front of him. He knew he was a mighty warrior, but Motochika wanted to see just how smart he was and if he could think on his feet when pressured to do so.

Words: 515
Tagged: Yukimura Sanada 

[Yukimura Sanada]

"I'm beginning to understand why Lord Shingen wanted me to meet Lord Motochika.... there is much he can teach me about the world."

Yukimura listened keenly to what the man had to say, he was indeed Master Motochika, the same Shingen had sent him to find. The Sanada boy was elated to have found him after such an unfruitful mid-morning. The other man took his time in reading the letter, in a relaxed manner letting a tune escape his lips. Yukimura felt a little uncomfortable with the whole situation - it was like anything he had experienced before. He faded for a few moments distracted, perhaps through exhaustion of the sun, perhaps just through lack of rest before being snapped back to earth with Motochika’s comments.
He sprung to life almost immediately, thrilled with the challenge of questions being launched in his direction.


“My lord… I apologise.. I am Sanada, Yukimura.. son of the late Masayuki and loyal retainer of Lord Takeda Shingen..” he prostrated unknowing that his lord had written that on the scroll. Motochika told the tale of his disgust for Nobunaga, and his desire for a reason to go to war. “You are truly a noble lord..” he honoured the comments of the man before him. He was just in his approach and didn’t go to war for his own personal ambitions. “Lord Shingen anticipated you would say something similar to this and therefore wanted me to give you this.. please forgive me for not giving this to you sooner.. I act upon my lord's every order..” the man reached into his armaments one last time. It was almost like a magicians trick. No doubt Motochika wondered how many scrolls Yukimura was hiding beneath that thick red plate armour of his.



The man bowed low before offering the scroll up to the man. “I offer no consul, I have not the experience nor the position, my lord..” he hesitated. “However Lord Nobunaga will stop at no end.. You would be mistaken to expect him to ignore your clan..” he paused knowing he spoke out of turn. “I meant no offence my lord .. I … I…” he stopped talking to look up at the reaction of the man who had untangled the scroll. The young crescent warrior cross legged on the floor like a child awaiting the thoughts of the clansman eagerly.

Alone neither the Takeda more the Chosokabe stood a chance against the Oda, especially now that Ieyasu Tokugawa had sided with the Demon King. They both required allies, admittedly Shingen was in the more dire of situations. 

Tagged: Motochika Chōsokabe 

[Motochika Chōsokabe]

     A hearty laugh came from Motochika as he bent over to pick Yukimura from the ground. "No need for that, I am just another man like you. With less muscles." As he picked him up, he dusted him off, as it would be a shame if this beautiful armor would be dirtied by anything but the blood of his foes. Motochika smiled as he listened to Yukimura, nodding as he refused to give advice but gave advice at the same time. While Yukimura was humble, he was completely correct in his statement. "Yes, Yukimura. That is the exact reason why no matter what I must march with you against Nobunaga Oda. You are much smarter then you let on, a dangerous thing for your foes!" Motochika laughed and patted Yukimura on the shoulder.

     It seemed as if Motochika's time to shine was coming soon, while he hated the idea of fighting like this he knew it would happen sooner rather than later. Thought fighting now will stop future casualties, ones that would come with a much more heavy loss if they were to fight later on in time. Before he completely committed to this young man, he had another question to ask him. "Tell me, and do not hold back Young Yukimura. What do you think about Nobunaga Oda? What kind of man do you believe him to be?" While Motochika hated the man, he knew that devil of a man had to be so confident for a reason. He was able to act and speak so brazenly because he had the might to back it up, a might that could possibly bring the Land to her knees. Motochika also knew no matter how much of a devil he was, he was still mortal, and all mortals bleed. People just can't stand by and let him do as he wishes, and they needed to fight back even if the fight was costly and dangerous. Alongside Shingen Takeda, Motochika would lead the march against the Demon King and take his head.

Words: 340
Tagged: Yukimura Sanada

[Yukimura Sanada]

"For that is the way of Yukimura... the way of the fighting Samurai"

Yukimura smiled as he was helped to his feet. The lord was courteous despite not following tradition. “You honour me my lord - but I am a humble servant” he smiled again at his compliments about being smarter than he portrayed himself as he felt the man's hand upon his shoulder. The warrior from the Sanada clan felt welcome.

Then came the difficult question, about Nobunaga Oda. Yukimura hesitated for a few moments mulled it over. It was so easy to label each other with different remarks but in the end we were all human.

“Lord Nobunaga is a noble lord..” he began “he is no different to you and I” it was easy to get lost up in the all the war and the politics. But he was a family man. He had a wife.. People who relied upon him.. Hopes and dreams. “Our only difference is the scenario we find ourselves in my lord..” his face turned my serious “I don’t think Nobunaga is an evil man.. Just like don’t feel we are evil men, my lord” he turned to the man and smiled. “If we were born in another lives no doubt perhaps one of us would be the enemy..” it was a possible reality. 

“I only know the justice of honour, and my allegiance to my lord.” his eyes turned a darker shade of green for a moment. “Before Japan can be reunited either Lord Nobunaga dies, or we concave to his grand design and become his victims..” it was reasonably black and white to Yukimura.

"Lord Shingen once told me that Zen has no secrets other than seriously thinking about life and death." he remarked "..and that if you rouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon." Yukimura broke his eye contact with Lord Motochika before returning his gaze. "These are the only truths I possess, my lord..." 

“My only answer is I hope when the time comes, that the justice of the Samurai is enforced....that whoever the victor is ~ that their conviction is true..” no doubt whomever emerged victorious would have a huge say in the lives of those on the opposite battlefield, but also in the future of Japan. If anyone was to die, let it be for a good cause..

Tagged: Motochika Chōsokabe

[Motochika Chōsokabe]

     As Yukimura spoke, Motochika stopped looking at him and moved over to the side of the hill and he looked over the village. He crossed his arms and continued to gaze across the small village. People near the hill waved up at him and he smiled slightly and nodded in their direction. He finally turned back towards Yukimura after he was done speaking, "Well said, well said. Some people are willing to do anything for this Land, and I think the ones who will not hold back are the ones who are destined to rule. Ones who will not hold back on doing anything for the people of the Land, for it's sons and daughters. The man who has the heart of the Land will win the land." Motochika said this with a quiet conviction, yet there was a slight sadness in his voice.

     
     
     With that said, Motochika pulled out his shakuhachi and overlooked the village once more before he started to play. As he began to play, a breeze flew through the area and sakura petals blew around him. Motochika sensed nothing else but his instrument as he poured himself fully into his flute. Where he could not properly convey in words, he would let his music speak for him and this was one of those times. Though he was not speaking just to Yukimura, but to the people he had sworn to protect. Some of them would be forced to fight and they might die, it was something Motochika hated deep down in his heart but he knew that it needed to be done if there were to ever be peace. He just hoped with his music he was able to convey those feelings to his people.

     After he finished playing, he looked up into the sky, as a tear fell down his face. He was quick to clean it up with his sleeve but he was not fast enough for Yukimura to not see it. He turned towards Yukimura and smiled at him. "I know not how many I have, but you have my word the Chōsokabe clan shall march with you against the Demon King."  

Words: 360
Tagged: Yukimura Sanada    

[Yukimura Sanada]

"Lord Motochika - allow my symphony to take place on the battlefield!"

Yukimura embraced the harmony of Motochika, beautiful as ever. He would cherish it for the rest of his life. Once again with clasped hands he raised them knowing his departure was imminent. “Lord Motochika.. I look forward to fighting alongside you on the battlefield.” his face was brave, and reassuring as he outstretched his own arm and placed it on the man’s shoulder - returning the gesture. “I will inform Lord Shingen of this news immediately…” he knew it he stayed any longer he would end up struggling to leave. There was a warmness to Shikoku.. And to Lord Chosokabe it filled Yukimura with the sadness to have to depart.

“We shall meet again..” with a low bow, the crimson warrior spun on his feed almost immediately setting off down the track he had came. “Goodbye Shikoku… Goodbye Lord Motochika..” His heart felt heavy, and his throat struggled. He held back a few tears knowing it would be months, possibly even years before he would see Lord Motochika again.

He knew that within the deepest fibres of his heart, he couldn’t allow Lord Nobunaga to overcome them and to change Japan. “Demon King..” he muttered upon the wind. “Soon we shall meet..” and with that the words danced upon the wind and scattered like leaves in Autumn.

Tagged: Motochika Chōsokabe