Half of my men died in that one month alone... half! It will be only another mile before I get home and over a thousand women will weep over dead family members. Was it worth it? Was  victory worth so many tears? Not only that, but I had to keep a large number of my dwindling
army at the newly acquired castle to protect it against attack. This mess is all my doing. I am the one who decided to declare war, and this is just the beginning. Soon, more will die.

My supplies are severely diminished and my men are exhausted. I am considering sending out a decree of conscription. By giving this order I risk an uprising in my own clan but what other choice do I have? Surrender? No, I can not do that after all that has been sacrificed already.

What would you do, Uncle Daiki? Did you ever have to face this hard of a                                        decision? What am I talking about? Of course he did. He was Diaymo for years.

Maybe I should speak to my advisors when I return. I also need to find out what the interrogation has turned up. Maybe there will be some answers for me when I return.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Get everything unpacked Suko-kun, I will pay our prisoner a visit."

"Yes, Yuudai-dono."

Men bow respectfully as I walk past them until I reach the door that leads to our prison. Mitsuki is in rough shape. Her arms are bloody and her lip is split in multiple places. The interrogator stops mid-sentence when he sees me.

"Lord Yuudai."

"Has she said anything yet?"

By the looks of her, it seems like she hasn't; at least not today.

"No sir. But our spies overheard something that you might want to hear."

It was either good or bad news when it came to spies. These days it was bad news they favored most. The interrogator leans in and whispers.

"They say that the clans are getting stronger; much stronger. Their armies are growing at a rapid rate and they are getting more and more aggressive."

"Yes, I noticed the Sanada clan was much stronger than they were a year ago. This battle has diminished our supplies as well as our army. We need more men."

There is no need to talk to the advisors now for there is only one solution. Swallowing nervously, I give the order.

"Tomorrow morning send out a decree of conscription to all villages within our borders.  As for the prisoner, you may leave. It is late and she is not going to talk."

"Yes sir."

From there I walk to the castle and into the gardens. The scene that greets me sends a wave of peace washing over my very soul. Between the full moon and the fragrance of the flowers, it is an orchestra of beauty. My uncle came here often when he was alive and it was a fitting place for him to die. A tear roles down my cheek unchecked. The dread he must have felt in his last moments was probably great. Never will I forgive myself for how disrespectful I was to him.

"You know, you where his favorite student," comes a gentle voice from behind me.

Suko comes to my side and places his hand on my shoulder. It feels like it was just yesterday when we were fighting each other for the grand title. These past few months feel unreal, like a nightmare that I can not be awakened from.

"Did you already complete the unpacking?" I wipe tears from my eyes and turn away from him.

"The men were anxious to see their families."

"They had better get used to long journeys. There are plenty more trips ahead of us."

"Yes, I know. May I say something to you Yuudai-dono?"

Composing myself, I turn to face Suko. "Of course you can, Suko-kun. You know I value your words."

There is a long silence that encompasses the room until I hear him sigh.

"Being Diaymo was never my dream, as you probably knew. Unlike you, I've always made a good follower not a good leader. So when I heard that it was between you and me, it was an easy decision. Losing to you so that you could be the Diaymo was the right thing to do."

"Hmm, I thought you were a little off that day. That wild swing was not typical of you."

I swipe down from above my head reenacting his swing. We both laugh at my over- exaggeration. We fall silent for a moment before Suko speaks again.

"I always knew you would make a fitting Diaymo some day, and so did he."

Our gaze falls to the middle of the garden where a memorial stands in Daiki's honor. He was buried the day we left to attack the Sanada clan. Suko did not even have the proper time to mourn the loss of his father and comfort his mother. He too has had his own inner battles.

"Thank you for your reassuring words. I am at odds with myself about this war."

"Do not question yourself, Yuudai-dono. We are here now and that is all that matters. Now, I'm going to get my rest as should you. This day has gone by fast and yet slow at the same time."

And with that, he leaves me alone with my thoughts, my regrets, and my prayers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wake up with the sun in my eyes and grass on my face. I lost track of myself last night and ended up sleeping in the garden instead of meditating. My entire body aches. But that is not what is on my mind.

Where is Ryo? Doesn't he come here in the mornings?

I hurry down the cold hallways and open the doors to Ryo's room. Instead of Ryo, I find a note on the bed.

Hello Yuudai,

By now you have discovered that your brother is missing. I am holding him in a
place where the two of you spent many grueling hours. I know you are smart    enough to figure it out. Come alone and be quick. I don't think Ryo will last long.

Your friend, Tadao Kato

I clench the letter in my hands so hard my knuckles turn white. I stand, unable to move for what feels like a millennia, trying to comprehend it all. Coming to myself, I sprint to my bedroom where my weapons hang on the wall. Sakura (my katana), a wakizashi, my yari and kunai are my weapons of choice. If Tadao is really behind this, then there is only one place he would be according to his clues. My old house where my father trained us mercilessly. Racing to the stables I ready my horse, Hoda, with as much speed as I can. As I ride out of the barns I am stopped by Suko.

"Yuudai-dono! Where are you going?"

"There is no time to explain. Take my place while I am gone." I toss him the note and spur Hoda on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Curse you Tadao! You will pay!

The single road which leads to my destination is poorly built and winds up around the mountains. I have one thing on my mind: how I will kill Tadao, assuming he's really the one behind this. It takes a day's ride before I come to the familiar house with two large sliding doors leading inside. I tie Hoda to a post and cautiously step inside. The interior is unchanged. As I look around I see ghostly images of my family and I. At first I'm only three, we were so happy. My dad is telling me a story of a famous warrior that is supposedly from our bloodline. However the more I walk, the darker the images get. My dad is yelling at my mom in the kitchen, my last lesson with my father, my sister's death. My thoughts are interrupted by a groan coming from one of the bedrooms. Running over to the door, I throw it open. The walls of the room are lined with tools and blades that hang on hooks. Ryo, who is tied to a chair in the middle of the room, slowly looks up.  As he does, a look of relief mixed with sorrow spreads across his face.

"Hello Yuudai."

Blood, scars, and fresh cuts cover his bare chest. Hurriedly I cut the ropes holding him. He falls into my arms and I collapse to my knees.

"Y-Yuudai! Tadao. He's betrayed us." The fact that the note told the truth hit me harder than I thought it would. Tadao will die.

"I know my brother. Shhh. Save your energy for the ride home."

He grips my arm hard and starts coughing up blood.

What did Tadao do to him?

"No, Yuudi-dono. There is no saving me now."

"No, you're wrong! You will make it out of here. I..."

Tears start streaming down my face as my shoulders shake uncontrollably. No matter how much I try to think otherwise, I know he is right. His injuries are too extensive and he will soon die.

"Yuudai."
"Yes brother."

My throat is so tight from sobbing I barely manage to choke out the words. We've been through so much these last few months, let alone our whole life. He has been there for me all the way and now he's dying and there's nothing I can do but hold him.

Suddenly, Ryo looks straight into my eyes and says. "Kill Tadao for me. Honor me and our uncle! "

"I will, don't worry." I promise.

My bitter tears fall on Ryo's head as I hold him tightly to my chest. Then, out of the silence I hear his soft voice.

"Baby-sitting for a whole day." Even in his current state his voice is like silk. "That makes me dying from hunger."

Ryo reaches up, grabs the back of my head and draws my forehead to his. Ever since I've became Diaymo all I've done is complain and all he's done is listen. Now I'm starting to wonder if I'm really the one that's had it hard.

"Wishing to get back home in a hurry across the border." As he continues singing, his breathing becomes more labored. "That's my parents home which can be seen far away." His arms start to shake. "That's my parents home which can be seen far away."

His hand slides off the back of my head and I no longer hear breath coming from his limp body. My cry reverberates off the walls and echoes back to my ears. Wiping tears away from my eyes, I gently lay Ryo's mangled, lifeless body on the floor. A rage floods through me as I have never known.

Where is that devil! If he lives another minute it is too long! His blood will flood
this wretched house and his body will be food for the animals!

I start searching the house room by room until the only place that's left is the backyard.

Tadao is waiting twenty yards from the door, smiling. He stops sharpening his sword and stands up.

"Ah Yuudai, it's good to see you."

"I will kill you for this!"

"I'm sure you will try."

How dare he act sarcastic after what he's done. "Why Tadao? You were our friend!"

"Because, Yuudai." Tadao's demeaning voice is laced with self-importance. "I am the politicly inclined one here. I am the one who was supposed to be Diaymo, not you!"

"It's because of revenge?"

"Maybe at first, but not now."

"And you are willing to kill Ryo and me for it!"

Tadao begins laughing hysterically as if he has just heard a good joke.

"It's not just you two. I was also the one who hired the assassin who killed your uncle."

"I figured as much." The anger still boiling in my chest is almost more than I can control.

"You don't know the half of it. My plan goes like this. I sent one of my many assassins to kill your uncle, the past Diaymo. By blaming it on Nobunaga, I started a war. Then, I led you here, away from your army, to kill you, the present Diaymo. And now I have hired a mercenary to kill your cousin. With Suko out of the way, I, as a strong economic leader, will be the logical choice for Diaymo. I will conquer Japan!"

My heart skips a beat. He wanted me to declare war against the Sanada clan. Even though I made the decision, it was not my idea. Tadao hasn't just killed Ryo,my uncle, and possibly Suko, he's killed every soldier who has and will die in this hopeless war! He is no better than Nobunaga himself.

"You're insane."  I spit the words out with seething hatred as my fingernails dig into my palms.

"On the contrary. I believe it is pure genius."

And with that, we charge. Using Sakura, I block two side strikes and a stab. I swipe at his neck; my anger driving me. Tadao rolls on his back to avoid getting his head cut off but I advance with a swift blade delivered to his chest. The blade cuts through his kimono and into his skin just as planned. The blow was not intended to kill. That would be too nice. He cries out in pain and jumps to his feet as he lunges forward. I block the blade just in time. Using the hilt of my sword I bash his nose and let his momentum carry him forward. Tadao backs away wiping blood off his nose readying himself for another attack. I throw a kunai at his waist before rushing towards him. He recovers quickly. Crouching, he sweeps my feet out from under me. The hard ground knocks the breath out of me and I barely manage to block Tadao's stab at my face.

I somehow manage to get my foot around his leg bringing him to the ground as well. Springing to my feet, I kick his katana away from him. Tadao scrambles to his feet and pulls out his wakizashi. He starts backing away from me towards the back door of the house. Seeing my opportunity, I throw a kunai that sticks into his foot. Again,he cries out in pain, giving me the time I need to get within swords range. He is caught off guard and does not have time to block my attack. All of the hurt and frustrations of the past months culminate in this moment and I let it all out. I cut into his chest multiple times, like a sculptor, careful to not cut deep enough to kill him.  I continue my fury on his back until I take out both his calves causing him to fall to his knees. His cries are barely heard over my pounding heart. Adrenaline is flowing through my body like a raging river.

"This is for my uncle!" I cut a line in his back from his right shoulder to his left hip. "This is for Ryo!" I cut a similar line from his left shoulder to his right hip. Somehow from the din of my furry I hear him choke out.

"Sep-pu-ku."

Leaning next to his ear I whisper. "You don't have that luxury."

With a final roar, I stab my blade deep into his back where the two cuts intersect. His body slides off my blade and he lands face first onto the ground, sending a small cloud of dust into the air.

This house is cursed with an evil spirit. It's time has come to an end.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the house burns, I place Ryo's body on the back of Hoda and cover him. Overwhelmed with sorrow, I begin the long ride home. With every step Hoda takes toward home, my mind seems to stand still. My body is too weak to do anything other than sit on my horse. Faithful Hoda takes me past rice farms and into a village. Some villagers just look at me strangely while others duck out of sight. I'm sure they think I am a bounty hunter with a dead body for my prize. Little do they know how wrong they are. I only stop to buy a bowl of noodles and some fruit, speaking only to buy my food and thank the cook. I continue on my dreary journey home. Somehow, thinking of home is not the same knowing the one who brought sunshine to my days now sleeps in eternal night.

I hope Suko is ok.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It figures that something like this would happen while Yuudai is gone. I'm not
even sure exactly where he is!

I'm still shaken. If the letter said what I think it did, then Yuudai will have the battle of his life.

Please stay safe Yuudia. We need you here.

I shake the thought out of my head and focus on the problem in front of me now. Two days ago, the day Yuudai left, he sent out a decree of conscription. The men came, but they did not come to enlist in an army. While Yuudai is saving his brother I'm here trying to calm a riot. I step out of the castle gates where the men have assembled. They have agreed to hear what I have to say.

"People of the Kato clan, I ask of you to hear me out."

Slowly, the loud angry mob quiets to silence.

"As of last month we have been at war! With who you may ask? With all of Japan! The clans are currently in turmoil, declaring war on each other and in need of strong guidance. Two days ago I came back from a battle against the Sanada clan that spread more death than I have ever seen in one place! Two days ago we came back with only one quarter of our men. If we do not follow our Diaymo's order, we will fall victim to another clan who will then take you all for their army! Don't you see! If we do not pledge our full support to Lord Yuudai and unite now as the Kato clan, our name will be extinguished. Now tell me people, would you rather die an honorable death or die in captivity?!"

It is funny how silence can be deafening! All I can do is stand strong and wait.

Please hurry home Yuudai-dono! I am not the proper leader!

A man in the back raises his fist and shouts a battle cry. Then all at once, everyone follows. All I can do is smile, breathe a sigh of relief, and join in the battle cry.