Chapter 4 : The Jinkai’s Song

Hashimaru gripped his jinkai hard, behind them Nobinoru detached himself with almost a thousand soldiers, most of which, after hearing his words, joined him. 

Nobunaga said, “What is it now, didn't you say that victory belonged to those who would set out?”

Hashimaru sighed and turned to the last scout that was still to give the report.

The scout knelt, his eyes were as still as steel itself, with an unwavering voice he said: “With Nobunori’s withdrawal we are now ready to go. Just up ahead towards Dengakuhazama the armies of our enemies lay in wait but…”

Katsuie asked, “but what?”

The scout said, “but they are all drunken silly”

Lady Kaguya's eyes widened. 

Nobunaga rose from his seat and said “All troops move to Najima castle.

Hashimaru approached the scout and asked him “Did you find them?”

The scout extracted a piece of metal from his sleeve.

Hashimaru closed his eyes.

Dengakuhazama is where Imagawa Yoshimoto came from. Currently to the north of their camp are the rice paddies, beside the rice paddies a huge forested hill.

“-!”

“I will move to scout the hill,” he said.

Hashimaru sweated profusely, as he rushed to get his horse.

Nobunaga face the order “we are leaving this place, at once”

The soldiers who had set up the camp left it as it was bad rather than creating scarecrows of the wood gathered. 

Hashimaru and the two samurai followed by Lady Kaguya rode ahead with fifty men. Nobunaga, Katsuie and Kinoshita after their soldiers had placed a huge number of  flags moved to the opposite path that passed by Naruto castle first and Nakajima castle.

…

IN THE FORESTED HILL

The horses whisked hurriedly through the trees. Hashimaru's hat bounced on his back, his head rocked left to right, scanning in between the trunks. Then up searching out for an enemy that wasn't there. 

The young husband came to his side. Hashimaru asked “What's your name?”

“Mori Shinsuke.”

“Shinsuke, nice name – he then spoke to all that followed him, “listen up, we must get to the rice paddies before Nobunaga dono, once that's done I will blow the Jinken”

And it will be over for Yoshimoto.

Hashimaru looked back as Lady Kaguya followed closely behind them.

The thick foliage began giving way to the rocks of the mountains, above them an eagle circled and it descended right behind the hill. The horses' hooves beat hard against the path. Hashimaru's hand descended on his great katana. He wore his monk hat covering his face. 

A path opened for them and that led them to the edges of the hill and just below them was Nobunaga. 

Shinsuke's hand trembled. “Hashimaru, watch out!

Just above him several Imagawa soldiers descended. Their spears pointed at him. The blades reflected him, then they caught Kaguya's eyes. 

Hashimaru's hand grabbed his great swords, but stopped, his eyes whisked through the many soldiers descending on the two of them to a man that held sticks.

A signal man!!

Hashimaru grabbed Lady Kaguya and leaped over the attackers. The signal man fled.

Hashimaru said “we must get to him before he beats the Taiko.

Lady Kaguya gathered her hair in a bun. 

Hashimaru said “Shinsuke! I live the rest to you, just don't die, I need to get you back to your wife.”

Shinsuke bowed “Take your time Hashimaru.”

…

Hashimaru and lady kaguya made their way down the hill skidding through the slope. The branches made way for them. In no time they caught up with the signal man, who turned back, his face lined in terror. 

The lady said “Can't you just blow the horn”

“No I can't”

They reached a sharp curve, he grabbed her waist and with one hand on a protruding branch avoided a sure crash. 

“Why not?”

Because my markers are not here. 

“Focus on getting this guy down. 

That's when the man planted his foot down to the ground and jumped.

No way.

The taiko drum was below; it was large enough to be a mini platform and the signal man was falling on it. Around several trees had been erected and carved in order to cause the sound to re-echo. 

CRASH

His horse broke through the perimeter and jumped. His head slammed the ribs of the signal man sending him fly away from the drum.

“Argh!”

The horse hooves landed on him, signalling his end.

Lady Kaguya blinked hard “wow, your horse is amazing”

WIII

Hashimaru whistled and it came galloping. Hashimaru extended his hand to lady kaguya.

“After you, my lady.”

…

Both of them rode ahead. In front sat Kaguya and at her back Hashimaru, and she blushed and he coughed.

“So your parents were commanders?”

“Yes.”

“Do you like it?”

She shook her head, the light was sipping through the last trunks of trees. The wind blew as she turned to look at him. Her head rested on his chest. 

“If we win this…” she said.

“No, when we win this,” he replied.

Finally they got to the other edge of the hill.

Her eyes widened as nobunaga rose ahead through the rice fields. 

Hashimaru said "Nobunaga made a fool of himself, but he is not stupid. That's why I accepted the job offer.”

“What conditions did he place on you?”

Hashimaru turned to the right where the Imagawa camp was. A column of cloud rose up up til the sky, its face twisted in rage. He raised his hand and stared it down.

Kaguya turned to him, “what are you doing?”

Hashimaru said “To secure him his win”

“Uh?”

“To secure Nobunaga win, that's the condition.”

He stood up on his horse's back and unlocked the Jinkai. 

CLICK

Everything around him waved, Lady Kaguya wrapped her arms around his legs. 

The wind, the earth, the water, the wildlife stood at attention. On the other side of the rice paddies Nobunaga smirked. In the Imagawa camp the Sake rippled in waves in their cups.

“And now, the Jinkai shall sing”

GASP

His face reddened his abdomen all tightened and eyes went white, veins began bulging from his face. 

He blew. 

„…..“

And all ears were clogged. 

The minutes passed.

The wind walked through the land and dark clouds arrived with a scornful sound. Lightning was there also and it said,

BOOM

On the hill behind their camp a blue light shone for a split second,

Hashimaru smiled.

It's done. The shogunate is safe now.

He collapsed in Kaguya's arms. 

The skies began their downpour.