"s.h.i.+ngen, you…" Gengyo was at a loss for words. This man in front of him, his selflessness was almost alarming. He had to put his people before his own feelings, and this is the solution he settled on. It was a wake up call. This is what it meant to be a Daimyo. That crus.h.i.+ng responsibility. Could he have done the same, if their positions had been reversed? He was unsure.
"I do not want to hear it." The man interrupted, shaking his head. "COME! KNEEL FOR YOUR LORD, TADAKATA OF THE MIURA CLAN!" That was the man they remembered. That dreadfully commanding voice. It was by habit that they obeyed, immediately breaking to one knee, all at once. Their discipline was phenomenal. Yamagata and Yamamoto were amongst them.
"They are yours now, make good use of them. You would do well to rely on Yamamoto – his hand in strategy is exceptional. And there is no man braver than Yamagata. Please do not let what I have cultivated go to waste."
He had given Gengyo such an immense gift, and yet he made it sound like he was the one receiving a favour.
"Thank you." Gengyo said simply, his voice filled with genuineness. "I will not forget the favour you have shown me. I will have your people know that even in death, their Lord watches over them. You"re a good man, Takeda s.h.i.+ngen. I am glad it was you I battled here today, for I fear my preordained distaste for Daimyos might have infected my future judgement. A man can be born into power and still take a bite from the fruit of greatness. You"ve taught me that, and so again, I thank you."
He mirrored s.h.i.+ngen"s earlier gesture, and dismounted his horse, patting the beast to rea.s.sure it. He bowed deeply. "Honourable Takeda-dono." He held that posture for what felt like minutes, catching s.h.i.+ngen off guard. His jaw sat slightly agape. To be given such respect from a man like him – it meant a great deal.
It did not end there either. Matsudaira left his horse straight after, his heart having opened towards their enemy. He joined Gengyo, and bowed deeply. "Honourable Takeda-dono." He repeated.
Jikouji followed soon after. As Gengyo"s Generals, they were an extension of himself. When he bowed, so did they. He came by the young man"s side, thoroughly impressed. Humility. Strength. Intelligence. His Lord had it all. "Honourable Takeda-dono."
Rin and Akiko came too, followed by Rokkaku and Morohira. Togas.h.i.+ and Sasaki. Kitajo and Il. They all dismounted their horses, and stepped solemnly forward. When they bowed, the men under them bowed too. Their new Takeda recruits bowed with them. Every man on that battlefield – save for the baffled Oda entourage – bowed as one, thousands upon thousands of exhausted men all lowered their heads. "HONOURABLE TAKEDA-DONO!"
Of all his years of rule, never had there been a moment more profound than this for s.h.i.+ngen Takeda. He felt as if all that he worked for had been acknowledged. That his life had been worth it. His eyes clouded despite himself, and he feared that he might actually cry. Forcefully, he pushed his head down, and returned their bow.
Gengyo was just within whispering distance, and to him he begged. "Please, I must do it now. My blades have been confiscated."
Wordlessly, Gengyo withdrew his wakizas.h.i.+, and handed it to him, handle first. In the same instance, he drew his katana. "I will be your kaishakunin. There is no need for you to suffer."
"Thank you." s.h.i.+ngen said one final time, before kneeling down in the mud. All heads were still bowed. They knew what was happening. Until s.h.i.+ngen pa.s.sed from this world, they would remain this way, and show him the utmost respect, for he deserved it.
The Tiger acknowledged the s.h.i.+ning edge of the polished wakizas.h.i.+. It was well taken care of. Its owner was a diligent man. He grasped its handle with both hands, raising his eyes to the sky. Past the dark clouds that had brought rain, there was a peaking sun. "Ah…" He murmured. The G.o.ds were ready for him. He drew in one final breath, appreciating its rejuvenating effect on his body, and then he plunged the wakizas.h.i.+ into his stomach.
"Guh…" That was his only reaction as the dagger tickled his guts. A tough man. A true samurai. He pulled it across and fully disembowelled himself before he was granted relief at the hands of Gengyo and his head was severed from his shoulders.
His body fell forward, and would have collapsed deep into the sticky mud had Gengyo not caught it and gently lowered it to the floor, respectfully replacing the head. He bowed once more to s.h.i.+ngen"s corpse before turning to face the gift that he had left them.
"We are one and the same now. Takeda, Miura and Matsudaira. We fight under the same flag, in accordance with the last wishes of s.h.i.+ngen. Retrieve your weapons. There will be no discrimination between us. You will feast with us tonight, and we will tend to our dead and grieve together tomorrow. That is all." Before they could go a step further, he demonstrated what trust he had in them and in the promise s.h.i.+ngen had made. He held no reservations and immediately rearmed them.
Cautiously, the Takeda men moved forward, drawing up their weapons, their eyes darting here and there, fearing a trap. But there was none. As the two Generals came to retrieve their weapons, Gengyo stopped them. "Yamamoto and Yamagata, correct?"
"That is us… my Lord." Yamamoto replied hesitantly."
"Good. I wish to rea.s.sure you that you will retain your rank as General. You will be treated the same as my existing members. Do right by me, and there will be plenty of rewards awaiting. I am counting on you."
"Welcome to the club." Morohira was the first to greet them, having fought briefly with Yamagata on the field. He patted his shoulder and walked away, but that simple gesture was enough.