Chapter 1: The Man From the South

The drums rolled, the stick dropped, the percussions rounded up the files. The boots of the force ripped the ground apart, clouds of dust rose from the earth. The pillars spread their hands wide and the wind blew the top backwards. 

The columns’ head had an opening. It was as if it laughed. Then no more, it fell to the ground. 

On a hill overlooking their encampment of the Imagawa hoard, stood a young man on his war horse, carefully striding ahead through the hills and rocky mountains in silence. He carried with him a great katana which he secured twice on his belt. The only sound he made were the taps of his Jinkai. This horn was made out of bamboo straws and a carefully crafted iron work for pipes. 

He stopped his horse to hear what was being said by some Imagawa soldiers. 

“We are gonna trample that fool.”

“It pisses me off that we have to spill our blood on him.”

“Just a little sacrifice for Imagawa-dono.”

“You mean Shogun.”

“YEAH!!!! AHAHAHAH!”

“Those Idiots won't even hear us coming, they–”

The man kicked the prick and got his horse going. He reached for his inner sleeve and threw out some pieces of metal on the ground. 

Fine, let's see what Kinoshita-senpai has for me.

He tucked his monk hat, which covered his rather messy black hair which he tied in a bun and smiled.

“Kiyosu, uh. Hashimaru of the South is here.”

….

The sun was about to set. The city was a tapestry of the bustling markets, the temple grounds, and the natural beauty of the mountains and the gardens and the Gojo river. 

Hashimaru dismounted his horse, handing him over to a stable worker. 

“Here take.”

He tossed him a silver coin. The boy who was about half his age, eleven years, smiled. His eyes glistened before hugging him tightly. 

“Thank you sir.”

“No problem”

The boy ran inside and came back with a brush and some sake. Hashimaru said. 

“Just water is ok for me.”

The boy bowed and returned running inside.

TAP

His horses cuddled him for some petting. Hashimaru’s hand gave him light scratches just through the jawline followed by gentle strokes on the neck. 

The people on the streets had already lighted their lanterns whilst the last rays of sunlight washed on the Kiyosu Castle and upon the red railings that guarded the bridge. 

Bridge in which stood some samurai that gazed straight at him. They had the demeanor of those who had been there for quite some time and the moment Hashimaru crossed their gaze; a simple tilt of their head made him follow. 

The boy came out running with the water.

“Sir, your water.”

“Keep it for me.”

He pointed back and tossed another silver coin to the boy.

A few moments later he finally caught up with the gentlemen who grabbed his shoulders and led him through the gates. He turned to look at the one on his left, and that one averted his eyes to the river. Hashimaru gripped his war horn tight.  

The gates opened up, and several Ashigaru stood in the Barack playing shogi, others sharpened their weapons, and others again wasted themselves in Sake, singing songs of despair. The Samurai which held me on my left hissed. 

They went up the stairs and the doors opened up.  Rushed in, navigated through the corridor and waited as the Samurai on my right knocked.

To Hashimaru's side some retainers were conversing.

“The Daimiyo should remain here, there is no way Imagawa would beat us”

“You speak so so highly of our lord”

“Eh what can I say,  for us it is better this way”

The door before the young man from the south opened and a lady bowed gently. Her eyes were a mix of black and blue, her face twitched, her mouth opened and closed.

“Oh…m-may you be t-the…”

How cute even with the stutter she is really whoa!

One of the samurai said “Lady Kaguya, please lead our guest to the Council, we don't have time.”

The lady looked at me then at the samurai and sighed “Sure follow me.”

…

Doors after doors, they went through Ashigaru and more Samurai that stood at guard and made him drop his sword, and searched him out thoroughly. When one of the guards reached for the horn he spinned around.

"Nothing to see her, it's just a musical instrument."

Yea believe it.

Finally they arrived at the last of the last doors which lay open. 

Several men stood outside of the room and one of them was his senior.

“Kinoshita-senpai!”

Kinoshita who later on will be known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi turned and looked at him, his hands were cuddling some sandals in his inner vest. 

“Uhm what are you doing senpai?”

“What do you mean what am I doing I am a sandal bearer of Nobunaga-dono”

Hashimaru smiled and both of them laughed. 

BANG

“No , I cannot accept that!”

The whole room shook as Sakuno Nobunori protested against the young Daimiyo. He stood to his left.

Nobunaga sat down cross-legged with a smile and face resting on his chin. His Yukata was loose which revealed the metallic necklace which he wore on his neck, the circular pendant resting on his chest. 

“Nobunaga-dono the Imagawa has at least eight times the force and we can bolster up our defenses somehow…” said one of his retainers who stood close to Nobunori.

On the other side was Shibata Katsuie. He remained silent, his fingers tapping his shoulders.

At the door Hashimaru smiled and patted both Hideyoshi and Lady Kaguya on their backs.

“Here I go.”

Hideyoshi nodded, and the lady said “uhm.. w-wait, you c-can’t…”

Hashimaru wore his monk hat again covering his face.

The retainers of Nobunori kept murmuring, all of them on the left stood to defend Kiyosu Castle, the room was heavy of breath. The room was bearing the weight. 

The horn tapped once. 

Nobunaga's gaze stirred towards him. 

The room followed.

Silence returned and words were cut out of Katsusuie’s mouth, for once he decided to join the ramblings, “uh–who are you,”  

Hashimaru smiled and giggled as he flicked his hat off revealing his eyes: ravenous and completely still.

Nobunaga's eyes widened, his hands pressed hard on his knees in anticipation of words he was hungry to hear.

Hashimaru knelt. His kimono spread through the air. He waited. He waited then said. 

“My lord Nobunaga, victory belongs to the one and only that one who sets out!”

DON

The taiko sounded and the doors closed. 

“Stupidity!!!!”

DON