Yasushi Inoue - The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan

But please be happy. Finally the time has come for our lord to fight against Kenshin. Please watch from up there to see who will be the victor. Is it not impossible for our lord to lose? Princess, have you really loved our lord, or have you not? It will not be too long before our lord conquers the entire country. I have lived until today to face this war; otherwise, what was the use of my living so long? I would have died a long time ago if not for this war. I would have accompanied you when you left this world.

Was it not a very cold winter, when you died? It must have been very cold to die on such a cold winter day.”

Kansuke continued mumbling. Once he started to mumble, he could not stop. The words seemed to roll out of his mouth continuously.

Suddenly Kansuke lifted his face. Through the wind, he could hear the beat of horse hooves. It must be the hooves of the troop horses departing from Takashima Castle, and the sound must have come over the surface of the lake.

“Princess, I have to tell you one more thing. It is about the first campaign of your son, Master Katsuyori — the first campaign of the sixteen-year-old Master Katsuyori. Your noble Suwa blood is still running in his body. You have suffered extremely, Princess.

You ran away from the castle on a snowy day and made me worry so much. It seems as if it were only yesterday. But now, you must be happy that the Suwa blood is alive in Master Katsuyori.” Then, Kansuke suddenly ceased speaking. He felt as if he heard Princess Yuu’s clear laughing voice.

“What are you laughing at, Princess?”

Then this time it sounded as if she were sobbing.

“Are you crying, Princess?”

Kansuke stood up, looking around him. Without his knowing, darkness had approached and surrounded Princess Yuu’s tomb.

“Princess!”

But this time, Kansuke heard nothing but the sound of the wind, which was blowing over the hill from its base.

Kansuke stood there for some time. What does Princess Yuu think of this battle? The sound I heard, was it a crying voice or a laughing voice? Is she happy or sad about this war? He stood there feeling uneasy about the whole thing. Up until now, he was quite sure that Princess Yuu would be happy to hear this news, but now Kansuke was confused.

What does that cold, mocking laughter mean? No, maybe that was not laughter. If it was not laughter, then was it sobbing?

If it was so, what does that imply?

Suddenly, from out of nowhere came a retainer’s voice. “Can I have your attention, please!” Kansuke could not see him. He was swallowed up in the darkness. Kansuke turned and looked through the fence as if he were trying to see through the darkness.

“What is it?”

“Sir, at the bottom of this hill, a large group of warriors is passing by. I do not believe that the army from Kiso would take this road. Therefore, I believe they are the army of the General Akiyama of Takato, from Ina district.”

His retainers knew that Kansuke was waiting for Master Katsuyori, who was with the Ina army.

“What, the Ina army?”

Although Kansuke thought it was still too early for the Ina army to arrive, he ordered the retainer to go and check. Indeed, the thunderous sound of hooves, which disappeared at one point because the direction of the wind changed, was heard again.

Actually he could hear it approaching quite closely. The army must have been passing right under the hill.

“Yes, they are the army of Lord Akiyama Nobutomo, sir.”

With that voice, Kansuke left Princess Yuu’s graveyard and descended the hill, followed by his retainers.

Akiyama’s army was quiet, a forced march in silence. There was an unending line of foot soldiers with groups of mounted warriors here and there. This was the army who was following the urgent message from Kofuchu and heading quickly to northern Shinano.

“Where is Lord Akiyama?” Kansuke yelled out the name of the commander-in-chief of this army at every interval of the line, as his horse galloped along the warriors.

But nobody seemed to know where he was. Some said he would be in the forefront of the troops, and some said he was at the rear. Kansuke advanced to the front.

“Lord Akiyama, are you here?” Kansuke shouted out regularly, quickly driving his horse forward.

Since the moon would not come out until midnight, it was pitch dark. He could see nothing but the dark reflection of the lake on the left.

“Is Lord Akiyama here?” After the tenth time that Kansuke yelled out his name, he heard a young voice calling right behind him, “Is that Kansuke?”

Kansuke brought his horse to an abrupt stop.

“Master Katsuyori? Is it the young lord?”

“Yes, it is. Is it Kansuke?”

“Oh!” Kansuke’s voice trembled with swelling emotion.

Then, one mounted horse left the line and came near Kansuke.

“Jii, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am. I have been looking for you.”

“Kansuke, join the line.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let’s travel together.”

Katsuyori went back to the line and Kansuke followed him.

“I am taking fifty mounted samurai,” said Katsuyori proudly.

“That is wonderful!” responded Kansuke. He thought that Katsuyori was really protected by the fifty mounted warriors rather than being their leader. Suddenly, with uncontrollable force, Kansuke said, “You have to enter Takashima Castle with your fifty mounted warriors.”

“What did you say!?”

“Master Katsuyori, it is far too early for you to join in your first campaign, you must wait another year.”

“You must be joking! I have no intention of listening to you.”

It was a stubborn young voice that would not move an inch.

“No, I am not joking, this is an order from my lord. I came all the way just to tell you his wishes.”

“My father?”

“Yes, it is a strict order from your father.”

“I am going to beg him again then.”

“No, it is no use. Judging from my lord’s personality, once he has spoken, he will not change his mind. You will have to wait another year.”

It was cruel, but Kansuke stated this firmly. It was strange even to Kansuke himself that suddenly he felt the urge to keep Katsuyori from his first campaign. But Kansuke knew that he had done the right thing. After he said that, he felt unexpectedly relieved.

Suddenly for some reason, Kansuke was frightened to send Katsuyori to this battle. Somehow he had lost his confidence.

This sudden change of mind was caused by his visit to Princess Yuu’s graveyard. Kansuke felt that Princess Yuu was not necessarily happy about Katsuyori’s first campaign. It was no use in sending such a young man to a dangerous battle such as this. He could make up an excuse for Shingen.

When they arrived at Takashima Castle, Kansuke took Katsuyori and his retainers out of the line and pulled them into the gate of the castle. Inside the castle, under the light from a bonfire, Kansuke saw Katsuyori’s face was pale, and his mouth was firmly set. It was clear to all eyes that he was suppressing his angry emotions. His face was indistinguishable from Princess Yuu’s expression when she had been upset.

“Won’t it be better to go to war as Lord of Takato Castle of Ina, leading 2,000, than joining the campaign as a leader of fifty mounted samurai? I will promise at the risk of my life to ask your father that within one year, young Master, you will be the Lord of Takato Castle. I am sure your late mother would feel the same way.”

No matter what Kansuke said, Katsuyori did not respond.

Paying no heed to this, Kansuke took Katsuyori into the garden and said, “Please look after this castle, all right. Here I, Kansuke, will bid you farewell.”

He felt it was no use staying any longer; he quickly returned in the direction of the castle gate. At the square, suddenly a woman called his name, “Kansuke!” Princess Ogoto stood there, one side of her face reflecting the light of the bonfire.