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"A noble goal. I would love the wars to end, but raising a force to try and make dream to might just create more conflict." Shou pointed out the slight flaw in the plan. "Well unless you were able to raise a force capable of crushing the armies all the Daimyo. Which may work but the amount of destruction you'd have to cause along the way. Could lead to the suffering of thousands." Shou continued looking up at the sky regrettfully at the idea.

"Talks of peace have broken, and conflict is just breeding more and more. But chisel me up a pessimist I am one." Shou admitted to the other man. He knew he was. He was loyal to the Takeda, but even then he didn't see Lord Shingen bringing peace in the immediate future. Maybe lord Shingen had a plan to end the conflict and maybe he didn't.  either way he would remain loyal to the Takeda, unless someone proved to be able to end the strife of the world.

Shou rode his horse alongside the captain of the unit he was with as the rest of the unit infantry marched behind them. “Something wrong messenger boy?” The captain asked, causing Shou to look up with a sombre expression at the captain. “Do you know the town we heading to captain?” Shou countered the captain question with his own. “I know of it, I haven’t been here before though. I guess you do then.” The captain stated. “It’s my home town; I haven’t been here in around 5 years. I’ve been avoiding it.” Shou explained, looking out toward the town slowly getting closer ahead of them. “Bad blood then I take it?” The captain said. “Something like that, as normal when I’m  teamed up with you I end up doing something I don’t particularly like.” Shou muttered, as he dismounted his horse. “You do the Takeda a disservice, we’re here to help these people.” The captain admonished him, dismounting as well. “And I will, doesn’t mean I can’t be bitter sometimes.” Shou replied as the pair, and the unit walked into town.


The town brought back memories especially in state it was in, some houses were burned down, other smashed, looted and crops trampled. It was terrible to see the town in such a state, like a repetition of history. Out of the crowd of onlookers a man stepped forward, asking who they were. “On behalf of Lord Shingen and the Takeda we are here to help you rebuild.” The captain informed the villager. “How may we and my men be of assistance?” The captain asked moving off to the side with the villager to discuss matters. Looking around Shou couldn’t help but feel pity for the people, even though deep down he didn’t like them, they didn’t deserve to have their home broken around them and there lively hoods destroyed.


After a few minute conversing with the townfolk, the captain returned to the front of the unit. “Alright men, you lot we’ll be with me. We’re going to help bring lumber in to town to rebuild some of the larger buildings. While the rest of you are going to help the villagers try and recover the crops as best you can. Yamabara you grew up here, help the villagers explain how exactly to help if they don’t know. Alright let get to it men.” The captain ordered splitting the unit in half, leading his half back out of the town to the local forest.


The rest of the unit turned to Shou expectantly. It had been years since he had done any farming but he could remember the basic. “Shoes off and roll you hakama up people we’re about to get our feet wet.” Shou ordered as he crouched down to do the same, before leading the men down to the fields. “Alright in to the water, slow and carefully we don’t want to trample. We’re going to have to get rid of the damaged crops in order so the new ones can be planted. Check each plant over carefully.” Shou said bending down in the water. “If the plant, is seriously crushed it isn’t going to grow.” He explained, digging a hand down into the water and grabbing the base of the plant. Before uprooting it. “If it only partial crushed, see if you can prune off the damage. If it is good, leave it be. Be careful while you check them over to, we don’t want to cause any more damage than has been done.” Shou finished explain. “Does everyone understand?” Shou asked the men loudly, and waited until the man gave comments of comprehension.


Setting off to work, it was a slow. Him and the men making their way forward, checking over plants carefully one by one. Pulling up those that were too damaged to grow anymore. It was sad to see just how many this was, and had it happened closer to when the fields would be harvested there would have been chance or replanting. It was back breaking muddy work, but it wasn’t the hardest part of the day of that he knew. Eventually reaching the otherside of the field a few minutes of the field a few minute before the rest of the men, he tracked down one of the townfolk. “Yamabara Shou is that you?” The man asked. “Yes, but that is not what important, how many spare seedlings are there any left over from the planting season. Are we going to be able replant all this?” Shou asked dismissing the man’s recognition. “There is some, it won’t replace all that’s lost though. Listen Yamabara-san about the past.” The man explained and then tried to change the topic. “Forget it. Take the first few men that finished their rows, and get them to help bring the seedlings. The past is the past.” Shou instructed before walking away back over to the fields, and starting on another row of the field.



Shou carefully tended to the plant one by one, being especially gently through the mist of wet eyes. The location, the scenario and to be tending crops again after many years was too much. Muscle memory led him onwards, and he became engrossed in the task ahead of him. So much so that sometime later he didn’t notice the voice calling out for him, until one of the men tapped him on the shoulder. “Sir?” The soldier asked concerned, as Shou regained his composer. “What is it?” Shou asked wiping his eyes on the shoulder of his clothes acting as if getting rid of the sweat. “We have the seedlings ready.” The solider informed him.



Yamabara waded his way through the field to where the seedlings sitting in tray were. “You men, continue to clear the field, only once your done that get one of the farmer to teach you how to plant the seedlings. I’m going to get started planting them.” Shou instructed picking up one of the few trays of seedlings , and moving back into the field starting with the first row. Proceeding up the line Shou found the first space where a plant had been removed. Carefully removing a seedling from the tray, Shou crouched down, the bottom of his rolled up hakama getting wet, and parted a section of the muddy soil , and planted the seedling so the top of its thin pointed leaves poke through the surface of the water. It was tiring, but it wasn’t bad as planting a field fresh, and eventually the soldier had returned and joined him in the planting. Hours passed and the sun started to set, and Shou continued toiled away, and would do so till the last seedling was in the ground.

Maybe Saito was right about, being able to find joy even amongst the chaos and by his tone and word, Shou wondered if the smaller man was speaking from experience rather then whimsical longing like his own words. "Well I look forward to the day I find it." Shou stated simply, 'If only I knew what would bring that.' he added mentally.

"Though I'll still keeping hoping for peace, if not for me, then for those who are suffering. Wish I could do more then I do to make that a reality" Shou reassuring himself as he spoke, by placing a hand to one of the hidden blades at his waist. Maybe he could do more then carrying messages but then he be as much part of the chaos as others, even if he was working to end it. He wondered how Lord Shingen felt, did he to hate that bringing peace came with the cost of war. 

Looking up at the sky memories stirred once more, and rather then shake the thought away he closed his eyes and laid back on the sand. "So how long are you planning to stay in these parts, before moving on again Saito-san?" Shou asked curious.

The both sat in silence with there drinks until Saito finally broke the silence again, asking about his knife skills and commenting that most went for larger weapons. "I had to learn to protect myself in some way, knives are something you can keep hidden. Carrying a sword, or say a bow as a traveller was likely to bring more notice to me than I wanted."  Shou explained to the archer. 

"It means I can protect what I carry, if I'm forced to. While just looking like a non-important traveller the rest of the time." Shou told her, flicking a knife into her hand, and then back out of sight. "and if someone attacks me because I'm incapable of protecting myself self, then they are scum, and I'd willing get rid of them." Shou said downing the last of his drink once again. Before looking over to the injured man. "I hope you understands that if in charge feel merciful enough to let you live." Shou spat the words out at the thug not sure if the man would even hear though the pain. 

It did hit the spot after what had happened. He preferred the fruit based wines that were made back home in Yamanashi, but a drink of any kind was enough to calm the nerve a little after what had happened earlier. HE was still shocked at himself for acting as fast as he did, and still questioning if he made that right choice to risk the women life. Thankful that Saito skills with a bow had proved true. 

"Thank you" He said lifting the refilled sake cup, and nodding a head to at Saito.  He hoped that the shop owner and his wife hadn't put themselves out to much by thanking them with the bottle, but in the long run they had probably been save more trouble and cost then if they hadn't been here. 

"It does, I have to admit. Just like a drink after a long trip home." Shou mused allowed, he was easily going to be able to pick himself up something from in town after the extra money this day would have sent his way. Slowly sipping his drink. "Thank you for the sake." He called out to the owner. The owner and his wife saying it was the least they could do for them.

'The fight will come to you one way or another' Shou thought to himself bitterly. 'Hopefully you survive it.' He added mentally, thinking that maybe if the man did, and once Lord Shingen had united the land this man would be able to attained his dream. Because as dreams go, it was a pretty good one. "Well met as well." Shou return the sentiment. "Well if we do, I'm sure it would be for different reasons." Shou added with a laugh. 

Pulling his bag of his back back, Shou dug inside it and eventually pulled out a small bottle. Flicking a small knife into his hand to open it. "I was going to treat myself, when I got home. But to peace and fulfilment of dreams." Shou said holding up the bottle before downing some of the Yamanashi wine. "And thank for the rice cake." Shou said with another laugh and holding out the bottle. It was better to have opened the bottle to drink it in company, then use it relax alone after finally getting home. He hoped that Amakusa didn't mind the local wines.

Shou hadn't been paying to much attention when Saito had rearranged his clothes, and when he looked back once again he assumed Saito had done so in order to cover his wound to some extent out of some sort of pride or desire not to appear less hurt then he was, and he had no reason to suspect otherwise. "You don't have to thank me Saito-san. From what i've seen you're deserving of the concern." Shou explained, though he couldn't help wondering to himself how the wounds had occurred, but didn't know Saito well enough to pry. 

"I try and stop and admire the beauty of thing in the world where I can. Never know when war may pick up to the stage where stop to do so will mean death pretty much anywhere." Shou told him, a random fancy of what swimming in the ocean would be like, before dismissing the idea. 

"Normally I'm just making trips to towns and villages around Kofu, the occasional trip to the border of the Takeda/Uesugi territories." Maybe he shouldn't of told Saito, because he was a mercenary and could one day down the line, be hired by the Uesugi. Lucky that he had his own routes for travelling between places rather the most direct route most of the time to avoid notice. 

Another day work done and dusted, and only the trip home lay ahead of him. However it wasn't often that he found himself in a coastal town. One of the main advantage of his work however was travelling and with that came the ability to take in sights of beauty that monumentally would allow him to forget, the chaos in the land. It wasn't long before found himself at the only sight of the town that he didn't normally get to see. Yellow white sand and deep blue sea in contrast with the light blue sky above. It was the same a beauty of movement that features such as waterfalls had, nor could he get down and drink the water ahead. But the slow crawl of waves back forth over then sand he had to admit was a calming one. 

Temporarily at peace memories of home flicked back to him, his old home before tragedy. With the sudden completion of thought he shook his from side to side clearing the images away. Looking round for something to distract him from the memory. It was then that he realised that he wasn't the only taking in the sight and sound of the beach today. It was only as he walked past along the beach and saw the person laying the beach closer up that he recognised him. 

"Saito-san this is unexpected crossing of paths." 

Looking over the smaller man, it didn't take much to notice bandage wrapped hand. Not a injury he had notice when they had met, probably a more recent one. Momentarily he wondered if he had treated himself, though the fact it was his hands made the seem unlikely. "Sorry to see you worse for wear though." Shou said turning his gaze back out onto the ocean. "It's peaceful here, isn't it? Wish I got to see more of the coast but my trips don't normally take me this far from home." 

The man word stung a little, and Shou hung his head and stared at the ground. "Not at this time no, I'd know put my life on the line to try.I'd put myself in harms in a heart beat, and probably get cut down in a instant, against man of true mettle." Shou muttered more reassuring himself then for the ears of the other man. "Though I wonder, if home is what you long for, why turn to become a mercenary?" Shou asked, "If it your dream when not aim for it, find a land you and people you want to protect, you sound as if your capable." Shou added. 

"Forget it, don't want to sound like I'm telling you what to do, when apart from serving my lord in the way I can. I don't even know what I truly want." Shou said as  he looked from the ground up at the sky and let out a heavy sigh. "Anyway let avoid these dark topic of unattained dreams, in such a peaceful moment. I am Yamabara Shou." He said slapping a hand to his chest, and a informal nod of a bow.  

The idea made some sense, that if you were doomed to die you might die with someone, rather alone. But the idea of surviving was what put him off the idea. "I've seen a lot of dead, but normally through the aftermath and not on the battlefield. I'm worried that at the end of the day, I'll be alive and those I care about will be the ones to have died." Shou said, mental adding 'Again' to the end of the statement. "Maybe I'm the coward people have called me in the past, but maybe If I live I'd rather be alive and lonely then alive and grief stricken." Shou tried to justify himself to the stranger, even though he didn't really have to.

"Seen a lot of battles then? So close to Kofu, you certainly don't dress like the Takeda soldier that I know." Shou said having noticed, and so far out from the city by himself didn't really scream soldier.  Even with the way he spoke of battle he sounded like an old one. 

Shou looked up from his position on the cliff side, when he heard a voice talking to him. He was surprised to see someone else at the falls. Though it was along the river so if some was nearby and need to resupply with water it was a smart location to come to. Pulling himself from the edge of the cliff, and onto more solid ground, he got to his feet and brushed off his clothes. 

Walking over and sitting down next to the other man. "Thank you, it isn't common you see random generosity in these times." Shou thank the man accepting the rice cake. "though then again it isn't common to random see someone decide to climb a water full either, so who am I to comment." Shou added taking a bite from the rice cake. He hadn't eaten for hours, he had been planning to do so after he got back down from the cliff, but after climbing it going back down quickly didn't seem like a smart idea, while his legs and arms felt like they were made of water. 

Yamabara Shou stared down at the message he received some few hours ago, watching the castle ahead of him from a distance. He still couldn’t quite believe the orders inside as he read them. “Yamabara-san I wish to test the men who I have protecting my castle, as well and see if you are capable of tasks beyond that which you are normally used to. Tonight when I retire, I want you to attempt to sneak and steal something from my room. Without alerting either my guards or myself. Also I will not accept any harm befalling those guarding me. Good luck.” Shou read the note to himself once more while keeping one out over at the castle.

“I hope the guards at least know about this test. Don’t want to be gutted if I’m spotted.” He muttered to himself as he watched one of the patrols on the wall. Actually if they knew they would be more alert and he would have less chance of actually getting pass. This was insane, he wasn’t a stealth specialist. However he wouldn’t let himself disappoint his lord. First thing first, was getting inside. The patrol he had been watching on the wall seemed to be coming pass every few minutes. However that should be enough, as there was another building closer to the walls of the castle then was probably safe.



It didn’t take much to climb the wall of the building and get on top of the roof. Laying flat on his chest, he watched the wall until the patrol had passed by once more. Holding his breath he, rose as quickly as he could. Rushing to his feet, he ran forward as fast as he could and leaped the gap from the roof to the wall and clung to the edge. Pulling himself up onto the wall he rolled to the other side and carefully climbed down into the courtyard. Eye scanned the area, for cover. A few cherry trees graced the garden and he snuck over towards them as voices, came for the other side of the courtyard. Pressing his back to the tree, he watched another pair of guards armed heavily make their way from one side to the other. Passing closer to him then he hoped.



As the pair of guard disappeared back inside, Shou finally started to breathe again. He was shaking and sweating. Those guard looked ready to kill an intruder, rather than just raise an alarm. However what other choice did he have, he could disappoint his lord. Slowly he started to creep into the direction the guards had come from. Sliding open the door a slither he peaked inside. Another guard was at the end of the hall. This was going to be hard. Quickly rushing over to the tree again he snapped off a branch, and move back over to the door.

Scrapping the branch on the door, and the tossing it back over to the tree he pressed himself agaisnt the wall. He heard the foot steps of the guard coming and opening the door, notice the brunch on the floor ahead, the guard took a step forward, before looking to his side, and Shou took the brief opportunity to slip inside as the guard bent down the examine the twig. “Damn wind, the lord isn’t going to like his tree being damaged.” The guard said, turning back to head inside. Seconds away from having caught Shou before he managed to turn the corner at the end of the hallway.


Hearing another guard coming from the end of the turning up ahead, Shou slipped into one of the side rooms. He though he was safe, but when the man’s footsteps stopped by the room. Instinctively Shou dived under the only form of cover in the room. A kotatsu. The guard entered the room but even the guard here were smart enough to investigate cover when they thought they head something. Footsteps approached the kotatsu and bend down to pull up the cover on one side, as Shou quietly rolled out the otherside. Then back under when the guard dropped the cover and look over at the back of the table. “Why did we get told to expect an intruder. It’s making me hear things.” Shou managed to hear the guard say. Shou heard the footsteps head over to the door, and slide it open and close. He was about to reveal himself, when he realised something there had been no footsteps away. Then the door opened again he final heard the footsteps of someone leaving.


‘These guards ain’t stupid are they.’ Shou thought to himself, he had almost just walk straight out in to being found. Getting out from under his cover, he creped over to the door, and put his ear against. The footsteps where making their way toward the guard position near the courtyard, and so Shou slip the door open and glanced both ways. The guard that had almost got him was walking away, and the way to the stairs ahead was clear. Glancing up to the top of the stairs, it looked clear, but he knew these stair were noising something fierce. Walking up them was sure to make too much noise. Instead he went down onto his hands and feet. Spreading his weight out as best as he could, to minimise the noises. It didn’t look good, he was sure, but he couldn't think of any better way to get by without making noise.



Eventually he reached the top of the stairs, pressed flat to the ground, and turned to look each way. He could see his goal up ahead. 2 guys posted at one of the doors, he knew to be his lords. No form of misdirection was getting past there. However who said he had to use the door. Crawling in to opposite direction of his target and the guards, he made his way to a different one of the doors and quickly hide inside. The room was luckily empty. Immediately Shou when for the window, and opened it, and looked off to the right, and the window of his target. Pulling himself out the window, he shimmed across to the other window, and pushed it up slowly. Praying that it was well maintain and made no noise.

Pulling himself up, he looked inside to see his lord sleeping away, and the target item. Not far into the room on a table. Rather than risk walking around in the room and waking the lord. He held as best he could onto the window frame and leant over inwards, attempting to grab the item. Knocking it off the table instead, sheer desperation, guide his hand after it and caught it. His finger holding the window screaming in pain he pulled himself back out, and gently lowered the window.



Hanging he could see the castle walls not far below. While it would have been impossible to reach the window from the wall, the extra height he had meant he might just be able to reach the wall from the window. Pushing his legs against the wall, he kicked off, throwing himself to the wall below with a slam. “What was that?” he heard a guard question, as he turned the force of the fall into a roll that led him to fall off outside of the grounds. The guard looked around atop the wall, but out of sight due to the angle. He was safe. Hiding where he was, he waited until the guard seemed to relax, and darted to the nearby building and into an allay out of sight. Those guards were going to be in trouble by the morning for not being up to the task. “And so am I. I think I broke a couple ribs with that fall.” Shou muttered to himself clutching his chest in pain.