Battle For The Right To Obtain Takenaka Hanbei! Part 2

There's nothing we can do by staying in Sunomata.

Yoshiharu and the gang headed north following the Nagara river,

planning to send Hanbei back to her hometown of Bodaisen since no

one knew if Yoshitatsu had already sent out troops to kill Hanbei.

Looking at the dark and diminishing Mount Kinka, Inuchiyo said

softly, "...Just the Owari army alone is unable to conquer that

fortress. Hime-sama will have to marry Asai Nagamasa."

"Not yet, Inuchiyo. I have not given up yet. Though I can't just go

accepting the fortress from Hanbei-chan, I will definitely think of

something to conquer that Inabayama Castle."

"....Impossible. For one thing, Hime-sama excels at guerrilla

warfare. She sucks at besieging fortresses.

"Yeah, because Nobuna is impulsive, but there must be some

other way; there must be!"

"Ohhhhhhh! I will definitely stop Nagamasa's marriage for all of

you to see!" Yoshiharu shouted, using all his brain juice to think on

the boat while Goemon used her pelican to fish in the river.

"It's impossible."

This sentence pierced Yoshiharu's heart like an arrow sounding a

"kachak".

"If you really want to stop the marriage, you should kidnap Hanbei

back to the portress(fortress)."

"Goemon, even if that's true, I will never kidnap girls. That is my,

the popular harem warrior Sagara Yoshiharu's way of life."

"In the end, you will lose Nobuna-dono."

"What can I do? I am someone who won't give up chasing any of

my rabbits, no matter if I end up pursuing two or three at once.

Besides, it's a matter of life and death, how can I just leave it like

this!?"[17]

"Arara. Sagara-shi, what a lustful person you are."

"Goemon, shouldn't you use the word "good" here?"

"No~pe. It's lustful person."

"....*sob* Really, I'm so sorry."

Maybe because she was afraid of the ninja and the macho men,

Hanbei once again lowered her head after sitting and hugged her

legs a distance away from Goemon and the Kawanami clan

members.

"Don't mind us, Hanbei-chan. Getting back Mino for Dousan and

going to the capital has always been Nobuna's dream. It's just that

currently Nagamasa is interfering and the situation isn't very good."

"...Yoshiharu likes Hime-sama despite being a lowly foot soldier.

That's why he wants to use his own strength and stop Nagamasa's

marriage."

"Oi, Inuchiyo! Wh-wh-wh-who likes that idiot!? I just... um... as an

aide of the Oda clan... er....! It's only that I can't see eye to eye with

Asai clan.....! From the start, Nagamasa that bastard, doesn't like

Nobuna one bit, he even kept saying about it being a political

marriage like it's nothing..... How can I let Nobuna marry such a

heartless guy! Uwah, why is my body getting hot so suddenly!?"

"...As you've seen, Yoshiharu has been mesmerized by Himesama. He would even go so far as to give up his life."

"Oioi Inuchiyo, stop giving strange information to Hanbei-chan."

"To Yoshiharu-san, Nobuna-dono is really a very important

person." Looking at the moon's reflection in the river, Hanbei

whispered softly.

"No...Not at all! Don't be deceived by my appearance; a guy like

me, I'm fiercely loyal! And don't judge Nobuna like that. Even though

normally she is very bashful, very arrogant and never knows when to

pull her punches, that violent girl still accepts and keeps me, a

foreigner to this world, as an aide."

Hanbei looked at the blushing and stomping Yoshiharu, and said in

a small voice, "...If she's really that important to you, you can just

hide her somewhere where nobody can touch her. To not let anyone

hurt Hime-sama, you should treasure her as such and keep her deep

inside a fortress."

The words Hanbei wanted to say actually went more like: 'I just do

not want to be mixed into these worldly affairs. If I had chosen

seclusion, this wouldn't have happened to uncle and I wouldn't have

to face a thing like escaping.'

But instead, Hanbei said "Yoshiharu-san, if you really treat

Nobuna-dono so importantly, it should be all right if you just hide her.

And then, Yoshiharu-san would lead the Oda clan into battle in place

of Nobuna-dono."

"That is wrong, Hanbei-chan."

"...Eh?"

Yoshiharu stands beside Hanbei, her gaze still fixed on the moon's

reflection.

"Hanbei-chan. The moon, it's beautiful, right?"

"...Yes. So beautiful."

"You like the moon?"

"Yes. Though it's a bit scary, but Tsuki-sama[18] is not scary at all."

"So have you ever thought about hiding the moon in a secret place

and not letting others see it?"

"Tsuki-sama can't be hidden."

"I'm just saying. If you use your onmyouji, it can be done, right?"

"...I think, I would not hide it away."

"Why, Hanbei-chan?"

"...If there is no Tsuki-sama shining brightly in the night,

everyone will feel lonely. The roads will be pitch dark and it will be

lots of trouble to everyone..... No matter if I like it or not, it's not a

thing I should have alone."

"That's correct. That moon should be shining brightly in the night

sky, not hidden away like the night of the new moon. If that's not the

case, the moon won't be the moon anymore. It has such a beautiful

and mysterious power to lighten up the dark night, yet if it can't use

this power and only dwell in the cage, even the moon will feel sad."

"It's the same reason", Yoshiharu said.

"If I hide that fellow, there won't be any meaning anymore. That

fellow won't be the same anymore. I... would like that fellow to shine

brightly in front of the world."

".....If she shines out in the world, behind the light, there will

always be shadows - making lots of enemies, and making people

jealous. If that's the case, I think that your important person will be

agonized, Yoshiharu."

"If that happens, it's alright; we as aides will solve it for her. I...

want to protect that fellow, and at the same time, I want to let her

shine out in the world."

For a while, Hanbei is stumped, and glances at the face of

Yoshiharu who is standing by her side.

"Just now... in my heart... Yoshiharu is stealing something away."

Just like that, a small feeling of unfairness yet mingled joy crept

into her heart.

This feeling is totally different compared to her "righteousness"

burning in her heart.

It's a totally new feeling that Hanbei has never experienced.

Righteousness, loyalty, filial piety; her own thoughts, as well as a

new passion mixed inside her and erupted into an emotion that was

much stronger than the rest.

But from her own mouth, she said things that were completely at

odds to this emotion she felt now.

"Yo...Yoshiharu-san is not just conflicted, but extremely greedy as

well. So childish."

Using all her strength, her voice resisted.

But even targeted with such a statement, Yoshiharu spoke in low

tones with bright eyes.

"Yes, I'm nothing but a brat. I don't want to give up on anything. No

matter who teases me about it, I will never become a decent adult

who is able to put important things on a scale and measure them."

This time, finally...

Ahhh...

Her most important thing was stolen by the guy in front of her.

Hanbei believes.

But from her mouth came words like...

"Yoshiharu-san, you might really be a big idiot."

"Maybe."

"Yoshiharu-san, is there any talent of yours that is of use to

Nobuna-dono?"

".....My skills with the spear and with horse-riding are all downright

lousy, and because I will feel uneasy just from seeing blood, going

onto the battlefield is a no-no too. But since I'm from the future, I do

know some history."

"*Cough* Even if that's true, Yoshiharu-san's actions will change

the course of history. If that's the case Yoshiharu-san, you can't help

Nobuna-dono at all."

"Hanbei-chan, do you feel cold?"

"No, it's ok; compared to me, Yoshiharu-san's matters are far more

important. I think, you must have lived in a peaceful world, right? So

you should not be here in this Sengoku era. You are really gentle,

but too useless."

"At most, I will just die. There's always a way. I... will never give up

on anything."

"But, no matter how you try, a daimyo is a daimyo, and an aide is

an aide. Even if Asai-san's marriage is stopped, Yoshiharu-san and

Nobuna-dono will definitely not be together. Do you really think

that's...."

"...The great me marry that girl? Haha. I've already said it had

never crossed my mind....."

Like this, a silence stretched between the both of them, and they

gazed quietly at the bright moon reflected onto the river.

And then, Hanbei suddenly spoke clearly in a volume only

Yoshiharu can hear.

I've hesitated for a very long time, but if I don't say it out now, I will

definitely... This dream that I have finally realized might end right

here and now.

Hanbei, for a long time since birth, felt fear creeping up her heart.

So right here, knowing the words would change her whole life, she

said it out herself.

"I also want to.... Let me be your light and forever protect you."

Takenaka Hanbei....

Just like that, she became the companion of Yoshiharu.

"Genius strategist, Takenaka Hanbei-chan actually teaming up

with an unknown guy like me.....? You gotta be joking! Besides,

what's this now? Not under Nobuna, but me!?"

If that's the case, the hope of not letting Asai Nagamasa take

Nobuna away... might succeed one day!

Yoshiharu, who was shocked at the sudden turn of events, cried

"I'm forever in your debt!", and before he realized it was bowing

down to the younger Hanbei.

"Raise your head, my master. From now on, my strategies and

onmyouji will all belong to you. Don't be reserved; use them as you

like."

"Nono! Hanbei-chan isn't my aide! It's companion! It's family! So,

you can just call me Yoshiharu like you did before."

".....*stifled laughter* As expected, you are totally different from the

warriors of the Sengoku era, Yoshiharu-san."

Yoshiharu nods and bows profusely at Hanbei.

We will definitely save Ando Iga. Before that, even if it's our own

allies, we should hide our real identities, the both of them decided.

During all this....

Going back to Inabayama castle, Saitou Yoshitatsu and his aides

were holding a feast in a three-storey building, which was also the

living quarters of the fortress master.

At the height of 6 feet and 5 inches, Yoshitatsu is a big guy with a

face like a child's doodle.

Contrary to his bad looks, his brain is unexpectedly clever. From a

young age, Yoshitatsu had been doubting whether he was the true

son of his father, Saitou Dousan, who has always been known as fair

looking.

After growing up and hearing from Dousan himself that he was the

son of the daimyo Dousan had banished from Mino, Yoshitatsu had

been hatching a plot to overthrow his godfather Dousan, aiming to

revive the Toki clan.

Yoshitatsu had always held an opposing mindset against Dousan,

who had benefited from taking Mino away from them and used

dictatorial methods to grow the country.

"Otou-sama is but a merchant by birth, so he knows nothing about

the importance of the old laws of this country. I'm not the same. I'm a

descendant from the distinguished Toki clan. As long as I hold the

reins, I will definitely abolish all the changes that Otou-sama has

implemented, and let Mino go back to it's original state." Yoshitatsu

planned like this at the beginning.

And then with that moment, the last hope that the traditional

Yoshitatsu held was shattered to pieces when that perverted geezer

Dousan suddenly said, "I have decided to give Mino to Nobunachan~"

At that time, the Nobuna who had not been through the battle of

Okehazama with Imagawa Yoshimoto was nothing but a fool in the

eyes of the residents of Mino.

The residents of Mino, especially the powerful "Mino Three" had

all agreed "Who knows what that fool Nobuna will do when she

comes to Mino..." Fearing for themselves, they brought the strategist

Hanbei and allied themselves with Yoshitatsu, and in doing so, they

allowed Yoshitatsu to force Dousan into a corner at Nagara river.

The Mino Three refers to Ando Iga, Ujiie Bokuzen and Inaba

Itetsu. Between the three, Ando Iga holds the top position as Dousan

confidant, but due to Dousan's reckless action of passing Mino to

Owari's foolish princess Oda Nobuna, Dousan has been labelled as

a tyrant. To protect himself, Ando Iga allied himself with Yoshitatsu.

But right now, Ando Iga doesn't even know the location of his own

niece.

Yoshitatsu seemed very satisfied as he downed all of the victory

wine in one gulp.

"Good job, you really forced Hanbei and her gang to retreat from

here, Saruyashamaru-dono."

"Yesterday, no matter if it's about persuading Hanbei to join me or

narrowly avoiding eating the dung dango, it was all a failure. This is

but one small payback."

Unexpectedly...

Asai Nagamasa sits beside Yoshitatsu with a relaxed face.

"Yoshitatsu-dono, after thinking about the alliance with the Oda

clan, I Nagamasa am fed up with that undecided foolish princess. As

of now, please take good care of me."

"Hmmm. Saruyashamaru-dono, don't tell me this is also a payback

to Oda Nobuna for not responding to your advances?"

Though with a height of 6 foot 5 inches and a face that is totally

fated to not have any love experience, Yoshitatsu isn't stupid.

"What do you mean?"

"If that foolish princess managed to absorb Mino into the influence

of Owari, she will be a world renowned daimyo. If that's the case,

there won't be any need to be the wife of Saruyashamaru-dono. In

contrast to that, if that happens, Saruyashamaru-dono will be slightly

inferior when compared to the Oda clan. So, to prevent Inabayama

castle from falling into the hands of the Oda clan while it was

controlled by Hanbei, and because you failed to persuade Hanbei to

join you, you planned to let me gain back this fortress, isn't that

right?"

The so called doing others a favor, in fact, all of it is spot on by

Yoshitatsu.

This artistically-lacking face and that thick body actually matches

Dousan in terms of intelligence. Nagamasa feels fear in his heart,

but still maintains a calm face.

"Saruyashamaru-dono, even without Hanbei, as long as I avoid

open warfare, this Inabayama castle has no weakness. That foolish

Nobuna will definitely be disdained after failing the last time, and will

be thinking who she might look to for help. I believe the pair of you

will become a couple very soon."

"Hmmm. At that time, we might just combine forces and attack

Inabayama castle, is this really okay?"

"Of course. It's different if the Oda clan has Hanbei, but this

fortress will never fall."

"Hmmm, you have a point."

Looks like the fact that I'm holding Ando Iga as a hostage has not

been discovered; if so, Hanbei will definitely serve me one day.

Nagamasa laughed in his heart while letting out a sign of relief, but

he does not know the fact that Hanbei had already sworn to be by

Yoshiharu's side.

There might be a day when both of them will become enemies,

and with that in mind, both Saitou Yoshitatsu and Asai Nagamasa

laugh with deep meaning and toast.

The enemy of yesterday can become today's friend, but they may

just as easily become your enemy in the future.

This is a certainty in the Sengoku era.

Yoshitatsu's aides all signaled to Yoshitatsu with their eyes, Why

not finish him off here?, but Yoshitatsu does not seem to think that

way.

It's partly Nagamasa's effort for the reclaiming of Inabayama

castle, and if Nagamasa died here, there won't be a chance for me

to see that foolish princess of Owari being forced into a marriage she

doesn't want, with that unwilling expression of hers.

If she became the wife of the experienced Saruyashamaru, that

willfull and foolish princess might learn her limits and do her duty as

a woman. After waking up from the unrealistic dream of conquering

the world, she might be disdained and give up Mino.

Beneath this doodle-like face, Yoshitatsu has already predicted to

that extent.

From Nagamasa's point of view, a man like Yoshitatsu who can

become a capable Sengoku daimyo can be said to be lucky.

Even without the help of the strategist Hanbei, Yoshitatsu still had

ways to protect Inabayama castle from the Oda army.

Nagamasa is certain that there is no other choice for Nobuna than

to obey his orders. It could be said that he had Owari in his hands

now. From now on, as long as Omi and Owari are allied together,

sieging Mino with an all surround formation, there will be a day when

Inabayama Castle will be his. During the day when he was climbing

the castle, Nagamasa has memorized every detail and piece of

structural information in this fortress.

In this world where wars are abundant, it's a place where you have

to bluff and cheat your way through.

For Nagamasa, who is said to be the reincarnation of ambition,

there is no such thing as friendship in this world, nor are there things

like romantic love or family loves. All he does is rely on his naturally

good looks, using different girls and abandoning them in stride. This

way of doing things was actually very similar to that used by the

young Viper, Saitou Dousan.

A person born in a daimyo family of the Sengoku era does not

need love. Their so called family members are nothing but chess

pieces.

Yoshitatsu had banished his own godfather, and Nagamasa has

also forced his useless father Hisamasa to retire and give up the

position of head of the clan.

Even that Nobuna will one day give up on that childish dream of "I

want to marry the man I like", and come under me.

Without knowing why, the Nagamasa whose heart had never been

moved by any female wanted to see the sobbing face of Nobuna

when her dream was shattered.

Oda Nobuna and Sagara Yoshiharu; these two people have totally

different positions, yet they always quarrel and threw curses at each

other once they are together. But looking at the their purity,

Nagamasa would always slip into a state of melancholy. Looking at

these two people who had totally no regard of their relationship

would remind Nagamasa of his long forgotten, yet never really given

up dream.

Asai Nagamasa isn't someone who just plays with women.

But the truth behind Nagamasa's long forgotten dream can never

be known to others. Even to Nobuna who will soon be his wife, not a

word can be spoken to her.

"Ara, tonight is really a night worth celebrating. To the prosperity of

the Saitou and Asai clans, cheers!