Wandering [OPEN]

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Long nights of travel had paid a heavy toll on the mercenary, and it was because of this that Takehiro found himself resting in a small village, just between Tokugawa and Takeda territory. Despite being so small, the village's location did very little to make conditions livable, creating a rift in the peoples' loyalties. Half the village favored Takeda, half Tokugawa, and this built tension quickly. It was as if a barrier was placed at the center of the village, dividing it, and any little thing would set it off. A small, potential battlefield.

Takehiro strode through the village, spear across his shoulders, arms resting atop the spear. Many people glanced over at him, and he could immediately tell what they were thinking: "Does he favor Takeda or Tokugawa?" Rather than give off any hints, the mercenary opted to make his lack of favor toward either party.

Entering a small tavern, Takehiro found a billboard with several odd-jobs posting. While he observed it, a small rumble started forming behind him. All he could here was the shouting of factions, "Takeda!" "Tokugawa!"

Oh boy.

[Sanada Yukimura]

Seated at the bar, right at the end, somewhat hidden in the shadows, clad in his family armor, his spear resting against the counter beside him, Yukimura drank a cup of warm sake, lowering the empty cup back onto the counter and filling it up from the bottle in front of him. As he was under the command of Lord Shingen, one would've expected him to join the group favoring the Takeda faction... But he did no such thing. He had paid no heed to the group when he came in, and did the same now, sitting with his back facing the shouting match that had started up and the main door.

"Tokugawa! What the...? Wait a minute... I recognize that boy over at the bar! He's Sanada's youngest son! Get him!"

Feeling the back of his armor grabbed, Yukimura would be spun around on his stool, finding himself facing the large group of Tokugawa supporters, led by a large, bulky man. Giving them no reply, but with a quick spin, he drove his elbow directly into the guy's face. The feeling of smashing flesh and the sound of the guy's nose breaking were beautiful. Pure poetry.

The guy dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes, clutching his nose. Yukimura shook his head. This guy was big, which meant he had more weight pulling him down. And clearly he had no threshold for pain. The others on the group all slowly turning pale, they would make no sudden movement towards Yukimura, clearly second guessing their decision to try and take him down.

[Amakusa Takehiro]

 The sound of bones cracking was always interesting. Takehiro turned his head back to see who all the fuss was about - the Sanada boy, was it? The damn kid helped instigate the situation, smashing in a Tokugawa's supporter's nose. That couldn't quell the hostilities in a naturally hostile village, and it only served to make tensions grow even more... tense.

"Don't you think that was a little much, buddy?" Takehiro stepped over the body of the downed Tokugawa supporter, stopping before the Sanada guy. He shook his head before looking the guy in the eyes. "Now I know they started it, but you're not helping much -" "TAKEDA SUPPORTERS HAVE NO PLACE HERE!" Takehiro was interrupted by a another angry man, who struck the back of his head. He would have fallen on top of the Sanada boy had he not caught himself.

"Alright, you shit heads, you wanna go?!" An adrenaline rush seared through Takehiro's body as he whirled around, striking all of the men around him with the butt end of his spear. 

[Sanada Yukimura]

"... They were ready to take my life. I am simply doing what I must to protect mine."

Yukimura would reply back calmly, looking back into the man's eyes after he made his way over, his right hand hovering hear his spear, in case the situation escalated... which it did. His hand quickly snapping his spear up as the man fell towards him from being struck on the back of his head by an angry Tokugawa supporter, managing to catch himself, meanwhile, Yukimura would quickly spring off his stool and dart to the side, finding himself surrounded by the remaining Tokugawa supporters, who decided to man up and attack him.

All of them leaping at him in one giant mass, katanas drawn, crouching down and the blunt end of his spear pointed at them, he would quickly spin on his heel and strike all of the men's legs at once, knocking them down to the ground. He would then push off his front foot, inevitably finding himself back to back with the other guy, spear pointed at the circle of men surrounding them.

"I'll take one half if you take the other half..."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

"It look like we got a choice?"

Takehiro smiled. Despite the odds, he was rather invigorated with the opportunity to fight, even if it was a small thing like this. He took a small moment to center himself before taking his spear by it's butt-end and stabbing it into the ground. Knuckles popped, he eyed the circle around them. Ten guys against two... not too bad.

Putting his dukes up, Takehiro motioned for his opponents to approach him. One of the five stepped forward, slicing his katana toward Takehiro's face, and the mercenary responded by ducking underneath it, taking the back of his opponent's head, and slapping his forehead into the spear which protruded from the ground. Needless to say, he was out in one hit.

"Come on, Tokugawa loyalists!"

Two more of the men charged, both of them bringing their blades up and slicing down toward Takehiro's head. In turn, he crouched, picking up the downed man's katana, parrying as he brought the blade up above his head. He slid forward, bring the butt of the blade and crashing it into one of the men's kidney's, flooring him. Then he stood, quickly head-butting the other man's chin, knocking him over and leaving only two men left with his half.

"You guys really need to work on your attitudes."

[Sanada Yukimura]

"... No. But I figured I ask anyways."

The odds were definitely not in their favor, but based on the display of skills the man gave, Yukimura was confident the two of them would emerge victorious. While the man took on one half of the group, Yukimura would handle the other half, as two of them would rush towards Yukimura, swinging their katanas for Yukimura's legs.

Jamming the blunt end of his spear into the floor and using it as leverage, he would swing his legs outward to the left and slam his feet into one of the men, the other katana swinging harmlessly beneath his feet as the man he had kicked went crashing into his partner, knocking both of them down to the ground, a sickening crunch heard as their heads said hello to the ground. After completing a 360, landing back in his original spot, one would charge at him, holding his katana aloft above his head before swinging it down at him as soon as he was within range.

Kicking his legs up, Yukimura would launch a one-two kick combo into the chest of the man on his left, sending him backwards and crashing to the floor. He would then immediately kick up two katanas of two of the downed men and duel wield them, as he too, was left with two men on his side.

"That was pathetic. My older sister-in-law could defeat you all easily..."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Takehiro drew his spear from the ground behind him and struck the men in front of him with it's butt-end, striking one of the two in the sternum twice in quick succession. He doubled around, pivoting on his heel and lowering his head, ducking under a swing from the last man's Katana, and he sent a solid left  hook for the man's chin, causing him to stumble backward. For good measure, Takehiro jabbed the spear's backside into the man's stomach, causing him to fall to the ground in pain.

"Geez, you guys are a pain! No wonder people love the Takeda so much - Tokugawa supporters are dicks."

He spat on the ground next to the floored guys, and turned to see if his Takeda friend needed any help.

[Sanada Yukimura]

"Why you little...!"

The two remaining men clearly infuriated and highly insulted by Yukimura's remark, the two of them would charge for Yukimura and try to slice him apart. With twin katanas in hand, Yukimura would sprint forward and then ease into a slide, the katanas flying above his head harmlessly. Swinging his blades outwards, he would easily slice the legs of both men, causing them to grab their legs and cry out in pain as they went crashing to the ground, and coming to a stop, would quickly climb to his feet, facing his nameless tag team partner.

"You call these katanas? The workmanship is not half of the skill my father's swordsmith possesses. I would suggest leaving now, before the rest of the Takeda supporters decide to get through with all of you."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

While the other man spoke trash, Takehiro reached down to take a bunch of the katanas, putting them back into their scabbards and tying them to his belt. The craftsmanship was poor, but he knew he could get at least a gold piece per blade, especially with all of these daimyos searching for weapons as often as they were. Get enough pieces of crap together, and you've actually got some decent reward out of it! Worst-case, he could probably smelt the blades back down and make more money off the iron than he would from the swords.

"Don't stoke the flames, Takeda boy. This village is small, word will spread quickly. You gonna be fine with the people tearing themselves apart because you couldn't hold your tongue?"

He stood to his feet, five katanas tied to his waist, and spear in hand. He wasn't trying to give a lecture, he was just posing a moral question.

[Sanada Yukimura]

"How dare you, you insolent little..."

"Leave the young master alone!"

"Yeah, it's because of Tokugawa Ieyasu, that Master Sanada nearly died!"

The Takeda supporters finally speaking up, they would crowd around the Tokugawa supporters still conscious, crying out at them, as it was clear that they were heavily outnumbered. Worry and a bit of panic settling on their faces, the situation was rapidly turning not in their favor.

"... Fine, we're leaving! We won't forget this, Takeda scum! Especially you!"

Referring to Takehiro, they would quickly gather their comrades and flee from the tavern, as the Takeda supporters would make sure Yukimura was fine before returning to their own business. Picking up the sheathes left behind, Yukimura would place the katanas back in, and carry both on his back, leaving his hands free.

"... I merely speak the truth. These katanas are cheaply made, and the Tokugawa supporters know it. They are just riled up by the rumble, this will not fuel the flames of war in this small village. You are a mercenary, are you not? No Takeda supporter would take the katanas of Tokugawa supporters as spoils."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

"You must heavily underestimate the situation, my friend." 

Takehiro leaned down, picking up another katana. The man's obvious bias toward Takeda craftsmanship made him curious - obviously, anything Takeda was better than this blade. But, this katana was brittle, the metal was impure. The blade and the handle were not centered... this was a local blade.

"Definitely not Tokugawa... but hey, spoils are spoils, coin is coin."

The mercenary smiled at the Takeda boy, taking yet another blade for himself. This totaled six, and could at least get the man a room for the night.

"That I am. Amakusa Takehiro." With that, he would make his way outside the tavern. "I don't believe I should be here, now. I've made a name as a Takeda supporter and, quite frankly, my allegiance lies with the man with the coin."

[Sanada Yukimura]

"... Perhaps, but these katanas are only useful to be sold and melted down. I can see that is what you plan to do, mercenary. I have no intention of using these katanas any further, but I will take them back and have my father's swordsmith find some use for them."

Watching the man gather another katana as spoils, totaling six in all, Yukimura would return the man's smile with a slight smile of his own, his arms casually folded across his chest.

"... Then I would advise swiftly journeying to the countryside, Amakusa-san. You will find neither Takeda nor Tokugawa supporters there. There is no doubt I am part of the Takeda faction, so my allegiance will always lie with Lord Takeda-sama."

Pulling his spear free from the ground, Yukimura would too, make his way out of the tavern, his spear held loosely in his arms.

"Farewell Amakusa-san. May we met again under more... favorable circumstances."

Yukimura would then turn and head down the road, towards Kofu, the base of operations for the Takeda clan, the long red headband bearing a six coin crest giving Takehiro more than enough information to figure out his identity.

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Takehiro waltzed out of the tavern, waving at the man he acquainted himself with. Though, he turned to observe the man as he spoke, quickly taking note of his bandana. The six coins, the allegiance to the Takeda - no way.

"Wait up, Sanada Yukimura?!"

He sounded as if he didn't believe it. Had he just helped one of the leaders of the Takeda army, unwittingly?! And it wasn't even a contract! Damn it, he could've gotten paid for something like this! What a waste...

... unless!

"Wait, Yukimura-san," the mercenary approached the man. "What are you doing all the way out here? Without a... guard, or something?"

[Sanada Yukimura]

"... Yes, that is my name. But how do YOU know of it, Amakusa-san?"

He would ask after stopping and turning slightly to look at the mercenary as he came up to him, one arm held loosely around his spear.

"... I didn't think my reasons for being out here were of importance to you, Amakusa-san. I have very little need for a guard, I am more than capable of protecting myself. Even the leaders of an army need to have some time to themselves. I do not spend all my time the Kofu region..."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Takehiro laughed. Damn, it was Yukimura. This was kind of a shock to him, but at the same time, it wasn't much. He didn't expect he'd end up fighting alongside the guy, nor would he expect to have displayed abilities to match his.

"Well, who on this side of the country doesn't know your name?" Maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but, you know. "You sure you aren't gonna need some sort of bodyguard? Those ten guys in there - could get a lot worse in a bigger village."

[Sanada Yukimura]

"... Point taken. But I would think my father and older brother are more well-known through Japan than I am. I am simply a part of Lord Takeda-sama's army."

It was true though. Compared to his father and older brother, Yukimura's reputation was just barely getting started. He had quite a ways to go before he could consider himself equal to them.

"... I do not wish to endanger the lives of anyone simply so my own is saved. It does not matter if I am faced with 10 or 1000, I will do what I must, to protect what I must."

Looking at Takehiro, he would regard the mercenary with the kind of eyes that looked through you and made you feel like you needed to pull a robe on over your brain.

"... Why would a mercenary such as yourself be interested in my safety? You yourself said your loyalty lies with the man that provides the largest amount of gold, but I have offered you nothing."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Offered nothing. But, the potential for coin was there, certainly.

"If something were to happen to you, don't you think it would do a great deal of harm to your Lordship and your family? I know I would be devastated if I were to lose a brother, only because he wanted no protection."

He felt there was a good deal of truth to his words, and that wasn't the prospective coin speaking. Were he to lose his brother, he would be ruined, and surely anyone else would feel the same way. Whether the man wanted to acknowledge that was his own business, but still.

"I can see you've offered nothing, but while I am a mercenary, I am also a man with morals."

[Sanada Yukimura]

"... You most certainly are a man with morals. There is truth to your words Amakusa-san, and Lord Takeda-sama and my family would certainly mourn my death, but to fall in battle, fighting until the bitter end, is the greatest honor for a samurai warrior."

Adjusting his hold on his spear, though the same could be said for Yukimura, if his father or older brother were to fall in battle, he would be devastated, he would also take over the duties of either one in Lord Takeda army, and fight in their memory.

"... And even if I were to offer you gold, there will always be someone willing to offer more. That is how you earn your living, just as I earn my living in Lord Takeda-sama's army. Morals or not, there may come a time when we will fight on opposing sides."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

"Honor or none, grief is the same for those who remain."

Granted, were Takehiro to lose a brother to an honorable death, the grief would be accompanied by pride. Though, the pride could not replace what was lost, and it would, too, exist alongside a feeling of hatred and a yearning for vengeance at who had taken his brother's life. These were the thoughts of a brother, of course, and Takehiro assumed they were universal.

"I speak not from coin, Yukimura-san. Coin has little to do with what I'm telling you right now. Were I offered coin to strike you down right now, I very well could, given your lack of defense, and I have half a village on my side. But I would not."

[Sanada Yukimura]

"... That is why I have no plans to lose my life. I cannot die, not when there are those I must protect. You may not speak for gold, Amakusa-san, and though you would not strike me down if offered gold, you forget that I too have half a village on my side. You have been labeled a Takeda supporter. That will not be so easily forgotten by those that oppose Lord Takeda-sama."

Raising his head up to look at the sky above, the orange glow of the sunset signifying the day was nearly done, Yukimura would lower his head back down and look over at Takehiro.

"Come, let us go to a nearby inn, for the day is nearly done. In appreciation for your aid, though an inconvenience to you now, I will treat you to dinner and your lodgings for the night. It is the least I can do."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

The mercenary just smirked. The two each had half a village on their side, sure, but if he really wanted, he was sure he could outclass this other guy in a fight like nothing else. His experience with the Hojo led him to more combat experience than most. Though, at the same time, that thought quickly faded.

"Well, I certainly can't deny an offer like that."

Takehiro's spear fell upon his shoulders, and his forearms rested on it. Without much complaint, he would follow after Yukimura.

[Sanada Yukimura]

Quickly turning around soon after, his spear held loosely in his hand, Yukimura would lead the way down the dirt path, the sun slowly setting with each passing moment. Eventually a ryokan would appear off in the distance, and by the time they reached it, it was already dark. Sliding open the shoji door, Yukimura would allow Takehiro to enter first before following after, closing the door shut behind him. Gesturing for the mercenary to sit and rest at the nearby lounging area, he would leave the mercenary to his own devices while he made his way to the nearby counter.

Pulling out a small bag that contained gold coins, he would wordlessly deposit the bag on top of the counter, in front of the innkeeper's daughter, as she would look up at in him in wonderment, before gradually understanding, and would give a nod of her head. Turning around, he would make his way back to Takehiro, and would take a seat on the cushion located on the opposite side of the table.

"Our food and drinks will be arriving shortly, and your room will be ready by the time you are finished."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Takehiro would follow Yukimura into the building, taking a seat happily, as the samurai gestured toward it. He wasn't about to complain, not when he was being treated to a free night. After giving for so long, it felt kind of nice to have someone perform a small act of kindness in his favor, for once. Even if the one doing it was someone Takehiro barely knew.

"I appreciate the hospitality, Yukimura." He dropped the honorific, though the respect with which he spoke the name was quite obvious. "It's not every day you meet a kind samurai on these roads."

[Sanada Yukimura]

"You need not thank me Amakusa-san, it was the least I could do, all things considered. ... But you are welcome nonetheless. Ronins seem to be more and more common these days. With war tearing families apart, many samurai's are more intent on avenging the family they've lost."

And not long after he had sat down and gotten comfortable, their food and drinks would be brought and placed down in front of them by the innkeeper's daughter, who would bow to them after and take her leave, leaving them to themselves for the time being.

"War is tragic in itself, with so much blood spilled and lives lost. With such a future on the rise, kindness is hard to come by these days."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

"Don't you think that's a little funny? Like, tragic irony, rather than literal comedy," the mercenary mused aloud. "It's sort of like a vicious cycle. People fight to take from those who took from them, those people end up seeking revenge and hurt someone else, and the cycle continues. I shouldn't complain, mind you; puts food on my table, that and kind men such as yourself. But when I get a job to kill a man who killed some other kids father, I end up killing a father myself. Then the orphan left behind wants to kill me, and then my family would get hurt, so my family kills the orphan, and his or her friends want to kill my family, and blah, blah, blah."

It was amusing to think about, yet very, very sad.