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{Since bitches be gettin' too strong...~ }

"You have all grown weak," said Motonari coolly.

The large group of men winced and stared at their lord, clearly nervous. Lord Mori stood with his sons and some of his generals at his side. This particular camp of men had been left under the watch of one of Motonari's generals. When he fell ill, someone else took charge over the months and very little was getting done. Training pretty much stopped and no work was being accomplished. The men in the camp had become lethargic, and when Lord Mori saw the state of his men in this particular camp, he was more than a little displeased.

"There is absolutely no excuse. Whether we battle ten years from now or tomorrow, you must always be ready. You may be pawns, but you are still fighting for Chugoku, for the Mori Clan. There is no time to grow lazy and fat. Understood?"

His men stood up tall and exclaimed "Yes sir!" Good. Now that the little talk was over, it was for the real training. The instructions were given out, and this seemed to dishearten his men, who looked at one another. It was early, most were bleary-eyed, and it was pouring out. But... well, a scary Lord Mori and his abuse boots were the perfect trick to get their asses in gear, a few asses being kicked, in fact.

With some yelps, they moved forward, and, despite Motonari's vastly superior speed, he stayed behind them, mostly threatening anyone who lagged too far back. The kicks didn't begin to happen until a few men fell too far back and began to beg to stop. That shit wasn't tolerated.

Hours went by, the mud slowing people down. But, with Motonari's proper motivation and his generals doing pretty much the same (although they struck far less fear than their Lord did, and their boots didn't hurt as much), they made record time. They slowed down by the seventh lap, and this was allowed. Motonari was brutal often times, but it wasn't as though he wasn't getting tired either.

After finishing the last lap around the camp, there was an allotted break. Lord Mori leaned against a tree and dried himself off. This rain was perfect for training his men, but he missed the sun, and his lips pressed into a firm line. After some time passed, the man sighed and moved away from the tree, commanding his men to continue onward. Maybe other Lords would have them all go at their own pace and wouldn't be so domineering, but this was Motonari. There was good reason he was practically undefeated.

As the men did their push ups, the lord walked by them. This seemed to give them the incentive to keep going, afraid of those scary boots of his. The sun may have not been out, but they were still afraid of being punted to the sun. When men would rest for too long, Motonari would demand them to continue, calling them useless pawns and talking about them keeping their honour and the such, and he would do so while standing over them until they went back to a good pace.

There was one man though who irritated Motonari in a different way. At least the others were trying, but this man quite was quite verbose, refusing to finish up his push-ups and continue on to the sit-ups. Lord Mori's brows arched upwards.

"Oh? Is that so? When did I tell you that you could stop?"

Hajime and the other generals shook their heads, and the men who were nearby winced. This wasn't going to go over well, and the imbecile didn't seem to recognize it until after Motonari walked over to him and quite literally walked on top of him. His expression was impassive and Lord Mori's arms crossed over his chest. The guy couldn't support the weight at first and fell face-first on the muddy ground.

"Continue. And add twenty more to your count, pawn."

Suffice to say, the man did it, because Motonari stayed on his back until he finished, staring coolly down at him. Upon finishing, Lord Mori stepped off adn the man fell back on the ground.

Men rested again and moved on to the sit-ups. Lord Mori continued to walk by his men, and despite all of the burning, the kept going with no more verbal complaints or refusals. And there was a vigor in some of them, as if their spirits came back, being forced to remember what being a soldier was all about. Others were just tired and trying to get through, but they were, and that was what mattered. About an hour passed and finally everyone was done.

As they laid on the ground, groaning and moaning, Lord Mori closed his eyes and called out, "You will feel this for the next few days and let that be a lesson. Remember this pain well. You will be grateful when we will be able to adequately protect our borders and those of the Mori Clan. Never forget your purpose."

Good job, pawns soldiers!

It was odd for Motonari to be outside of his camps or castle, but after returning to his family after a very long time being away, the man had been convinced to stop working by his wife and to spend time with his family. And where else but on the beach!

He didn't like the idea of people possibly seeing him with them, because, as he stood now, it endangered them, in multiple ways. One, it was simply that they were out in the open and not within the safety of the castle walls and, two, there was the possibility of someone seeing Motonari care about people besides himself. Just about everybody thought he was a cold-hearted, scary, brutal dick for good reason. It was because he purposefully created that image over the years, to secure his land and protect his family. There would never be a repeat of what happened to his eldest son. Motonari would never allow it. Couldn't.

But even the icy Lord Mori was unable to resist and melted at his young daughter's urging and begging along with his wife. And so Motonari took his family to a more secluded area on the beach with some of his most trusted men and soldiers to keep them safe. His wife, Myōgyu Fujin, cradled their youngest son against her bosom. She sat on cloth laid out on the sand, cooing at the infant. She was a beautiful woman, regal in every sense, but there was a rare warmth about her. Her eyes glittered in the light, dazzling like her sweet smile. When Motonari looked over at her, his gaze couldn't help but linger, and he sighed, closing his eyes.

Their three eldest sons were gone, still at a camp as they were generals, but their six other children ran about, his older daughter and three other sons playing in the water, splashing one another and giggling and shouting all the while. Motonari could hear Fujin's bell-like laugh at seeing her children have such a good time.

At feeling a tugging on his sleeve, Lord Mori blinked and glanced downwards, finding little Kikuhime. Her fair brown hair was pulled in pigtails and her large brown eyes stared up at her father, and he looked down at her.

"Pway wif me, Daddy" she asked (although it was more of a demand), pouting her bottom lip.

Motonari glanced over at his men. "Uhh..."

Her big eyes only seemed to get bigger and they wavered. "Pweeaaase...!"

He looked back down at her, getting those puppy eyes. Normally Motonari had no problem with that, puppy punting a specialty of his, but... well... this was his little Kikuhime, and she moved forward, clinging to him. Lord Mori stared down at her, glancing over at his men, and either side of the beach, and back down at the child.

Fuck.

Motonari shifted uncomfortably. Maybe if he was around her more he could resist her charm, but... she really was adorable. Kikuhime had her mother's eyes and lips... The man sighed heavily. He was known for quite literally walking over his men and being this brutal leader, and yet... how could he say no?

"Alright," finally answered the Lord. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, beginning to continue on, wanting to lay down rules, so to speak, "But we wi-"

"EEHEEHEE! YAAAAAY!" squealed the little girl, and suddenly she yanked down on his arm. Only because of surprise did he lean down and suddenly she kissed his cheek and pinched his cheeks. Motonari blinked, and before he could really react, Kikuhime began to try to climb on top of him. "THANK YOU, DADDY! Heeheehee! Wets pway! Pway pway PWAY!"

The constantly level-headed, impassive man was clearly stunned. He had no idea how to react and stayed in his position, with widened eyes and a slightly gaping mouth as Kikuhime was jumping up on him. If anyone else had even remotely tried to do any of that, they would have been bitchslapped and punted to the sun, but... it was his little daughter, and despite what he may claim, she was precious to him. So then how in hell was he supposed to keep up his appearance with all of this damned... adorableness?! Some of his men were looking over at him, and Motonari tensed.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

"Kikuhime-" his voice was stern, but was cut off when his daughter exclaimed she "wuved" and "missed" him, and giggled cheerfully, clearly enthusiastic at the opportunity to spend time with her constantly busy father. His mouth snapped closed at her exclamation, the beginning of that stern command dissipating.

She finally finished clambering onto his back. "ONWARDS!"

Kikuhime giggled and clapped her hands, hugging his back and neck.

"...."

Motonari twitched. The ruthless and genius warlord was defeated... by a little five-year-old girl, who giggled and was demanding a ride. Her arm was outstretched and pointed forward.

"GO GO GO!"

Godddamnit. He could practically hear his top general internally chuckle at Motonari, and there was no doubt those few soldiers were gaping. Lord Mori would need to use his Abuse Boots on them later to make sure they would never ever dare speak of this day to a soul...

The people in Buzen of Chugoku whispered in hushed voices as they saw their lord mounted on a steed with his right hand man, Watanabe Hajime, and his eldest son, Mōri Takamoto, along with some other low-ranking soldiers. Two generals and Lord Mori himself was riding through the streets, and people were both in awe and in fear. In awe because Motonari kept them safe and prosperous no matter what needed to be done, and in fear because with him, the big man himself, riding out in the open like this in his territory with so few men... it likely meant someone had done something seriously wrong, very wrong, and there would be a just as serious punishment given out to whoever had committed the deed.

And the people's assumptions were correct.

Motonari's brown eyes were narrowed, per usual, and he rode with his back straight and tall. He was a man of importance, one could never doubt. Just with how he presented himself. Towards the end of the town, Lord Mori rose his hand up and pulled back on the reigns, and with a snort his steed stopped.

They were there.

A young boy was playing outside of a house, kicking a small ball around with a couple of dogs, shouting gleefully, and stopped dead in his tracks. His mouth gaped at seeing his lord, and he quickly bowed. The door slid open of the house and a woman left it. She was the boy's mother and began calling out, suspicious that his playful cries had stopped. And at seeing Lord Mori and his men, there was a look of confusion which was replace with dread when Motonari dismounted. She visibly paled.

"No..." she breathed, taking a step backwards. The woman figured out what was going on just then, and shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "He... He couldn't have... No..."

She cried out for her son and, startled, he ran towards her as the other men dismounted and Lord Motonari and them walked towards the house. The woman clung to her boy, tears streaming down her cheeks. A man's voice sounded from within the house and it grew louder.

"Hey, what's going on-?" the voice stopped as the person left the house, and at seeing Lord Motonari and his men, he gasped sharply, taking a step backwards. "Shit! No!"

He didn't even have the time to grab for his sword, because suddenly Mori's men drew their bows on him. The man was entirely surrounded, and fearfully he rose his hands up in the air.

Hajime stepped forth and, clearing his throat, declared, "Himura Aki, you have been charged with several counts of treason. Taking important military information and selling it for profit. You have betrayed your Lord, your people, and your family. By law, you shall be punished for your crimes."

Men stepped forth and took Aki by the arms, dragging him out into the street. Cries from his family grew louder and whispers of shock rang in the air as the people in the surrounding area began to gather. He was dragged into the center, eventually forced onto his knees. Motonari stepped forward with his eldest son close behind, staring down at the man coolly. Aki's wife broke through the crowd, dragging her son with her, clutching to him tightly.

"How... How could you, husband?! Why..." her voice trailed off, and the woman fell to her knees, and her son clutched to her, going down as well. She screamed, "What about our son?! Our family?! Our honour!?!"

He stared at his wife until Motonari moved closer. His expression was unreadable, and terrifying. "You have a choice. Honour your family," he glanced down at the knife on his person, that all samurai kept. Motonari then looked back up to Aki's face and his eyes narrowed, "or be executed. Make your decision now."

The man began to tremble and tears fell onto the ground. Hunching over, his hands rose to his face as he wept. Motonari continued to stand in place, expression cold as can be. The air was heavy, and no one spoke a word. Even the horses seemed to quiet for the occasion. Aki pulled out his knife and his trembling hands held it, Aki staring at it. His wife forced her son's head to turn, cradling him against her bosom.

"Make him watch," called out Motonari's voice. The woman's eyes narrowed and she stared at her lord with wide, tear-filled eyes. He continued to look down at Aki, but went on, words and voice unwavering, "So he will always remember his father's crimes, and so that someday he will fully bring back honour to the Himura name."

Lord Mori's gaze switched over to them, and the woman went rigid. Biting down on her lip, she eventually closed her eyes and nodded, turning her son around. He stared at Mori and his father with wide eyes.

"Learn from your father's mistakes, boy. Never repeat them. For the good of all of our land and the people of Mori."

A glimmer was within his large, dark eyes, and when Motonari turned to face Aki, upon nodding, the man proceeded to commit sepukku, disemboweling himself on the spot. Hajime had stood behind him just then and quickly cut Aki's throat, and the head hung by a sliver, resting against his chest. Blood had sprayed in the air and stained his kimono, pooling onto the ground. Everyone stared and a few whispers sounded from here and there.

Motonari closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, and upon opening them looked at the man's son for a few moments, before turning his gaze to his own, Takamoto. He lifted his hand and rested it on the shoulder of the young man.

"You must do the same when someday I am gone and you take charge."

Takamoto nodded. "... Of course, Father."

The body was kept where it was, and it would stay there for the rest of the day before being removed, and the people began to slip away slowly. Motonari moved over to Aki's wife and son and his arms crossed over his chest. The woman glanced up at him, and she wiped away the tears falling down her cheeks.

"You will not be punished for your husband's crimes, but this will not be forgotten by myself or the people," declared Motonari, voice even. His expression was intimidating, as it was quite grave. Yet there was no anger there or cruelty. The tiniest (in fact, it was so small that it was even arguable whether it was even there, or if it was just the reflection of the light of the sun) glimmer of warmth was within his dark eyes, and he continued, "Nevertheless, the Himura and Sakamoto families have been invaluable retainers for some time. Because of this, the Mori will ensure that you do not perish because of dishonorable actions you had no power over or knowledge of."

Sniffling, the woman bowed her head along with her trembling son. "T... Thank you, M... Mori-s-sama... Our family... is ashamed and... we promise... to make it up to you, to... to restore our honour. We... are so sorry, Mori-sama."

Motonari nodded and stepped away, and Hajime moved over to her, kneeling down and helping her up as Lord Mori walked towards his horse.