“Go on.” Kiyotada urged, fascinated by the detailed retelling of the action.
After a another short pause, the Samurai continued.
“But I could not. The wound I had suffered on that arm's shoulder had rendered it useless. I could do nothing but yell a battlecry at the top of my lungs as the Takeda man caught me clean with the Katana. I felt myself falling from horseback to the grass.”
Masakage was silent. Not in sorrow, but rather proudly enjoying reliving the glory he had won for his Clan. Kiyotada closed his eyes and also enjoyed the momentary silence, he did not want to prod the Uesugi Samurai in continuing until he was ready.
“That is a terrifying perspective to witness a battle from.” Masakage continued after what might have been twenty minutes. The gruff voice stirred Kiyotada from his own meditation.
“What is?” He asked, not quite following what the Samurai was talking about.
“The ground.” Uesugi Masakage responded with a certain conviction. As if he believed with all his heart there was no worse way for a warrior to partake in the climax of a battle. Helpless.
“Though I was down. The remaining Uesugi had heard my battlecry. It rallied them as their small number fought on with what I can only imagine is a frightening demeanour for the Takeda forces.
The Katana Samurai, Naginata Monks and Yari Samurai arrived at the bottom of the hill at around the exact same time. And charged the clustered and out of formation Takeda infantry. This part of the battle seemed to last an eternity.
Despite the Takeda huge numerical advantage the Uesugi warriors carved through them one by one.
As the Takeda bodies stacked up the Ashigaru morale was crippled, they turned and fled.
It was not long before this part of the battlefield fell deadly silent. The wind made the grass wave, birds chirped in the tall trees. It was a beautiful day, despite the carnage it witnessed the earth's beauty was untainted.”
“What of Baba Moromoto and his forces?” Questioned Kiyotada. The Samurai had seemingly forgotten to mention their fate.
“I was just getting to that, I thought Monks were universally patient beyond measure?”
Kiyotada did not rise to the bait, instead allowing an almost imperceptible smirk.
“Your lord, Moromoto... I can only assume he retreated after I was struck. His forces had completed their march and were headed straight for the hotly-contested hill. From where I sat I could make out his banner at the rear of his infantry, so he must have fallen back following the annihilation of the remaining Nagauji army.
Anyway, the small handful of Uesugi left standing on the battlefield marched to the hilltop and stood at it's peak, staring down upon the incoming Moromoto army. The Takeda reinforcements must have numbered 2000!”
“1550.” Chimed in Kiyotada
“What?”
“It was 1550.” He repeated
“...”
“Trust me, I have a place in Lord Baba Moromoto's retinue, remember? I can attest for the fact that he led 1550 men to the battlefield that day.” Kiyotada explained, somewhat sheepishly. He regretted not allowing the Samurai to exaggerate and enjoy the glory.
“Whatever. 1550. The Uesugi who stood defiantly to oppose them were the very men I trusted most. The tattered remnants of the Yari Samurai, Katana Samurai and of course, the Naginata Monks. These brave men watched the enemy advance, waiting patiently and basking in a silence that I have only ever heard whilst praying.
Baba Moromoto halted all six units of archers just within range of the top of the hill. From there they showered what was left of my men with arrows. Yet still they stood, not faltering nor shuffling. They greeted the honourable death they had earned that day.
Meanwhile the Yari Ashigaru plodded towards the bottom of the hill. Moromoto wanted to ensure none survive, he wanted these Takeda spearmen to chase after the Uesugi once their morale broke.
Just as the Moromoto infantry came to a halt however, a bellowing war cry echoed over the landscape. The Monks chanted their prayers to the War God Bishamonten and seconds later this sound was drowned out by the yells of the Samurai like thunder as they raised their weapons and charged downhill, straight towards the foolish men of the Takeda Clan.
It was clear your 'noble' lord Baba Moromoto was panicked, ordering his archers to continue firing into the sudden melee, slaughtering many of his own men.
It did not take long for the Yari Ashigaru to turn and run right back towards the rest of their Takeda brothers. Of course the valiant Uesugi warriors gave chase, straight towards the mobs of archers. Rushing headlong into unending barrages of arrows. Many more Uesugi fell, each one a testament to the honour of the Clan.
Suffice to say, even though the archers outnumbered the remaining Samurai and Monks by around four to one they were routed or cut down, one by one the warriors of the Uesugi Clan meticulously delivered their ancestor's wrath to the Takeda enemy. Above the generic din of chanting, fervent yelling and painful screaming I could hear uncountable shouts boasting of family members and relatives and the Samurai's pride elevated their combat prowess.
It did not take long for the entire force of archers to turn and run, panic stricken by the skill of my men. I was during the chaos and ensuing pursuit that Baba Moromoto must have fled the battlefield himself. I would have cried tears of pride were I able.”
Kiyotada was quite honestly dumbstruck. He had no words. He could only meet the steely gaze of the brown eyes belonging to Uesugi Masakage. The gaze was unlike the one the Monk and Samurai had shared at the start of the windy evening. Now the brown eyes were energised, filled with the aura of fatherlike pride and passion, they were the eyes of a man who had gotten ultimate satisfaction from life.
The silence was interrupted as the Samurai resumed the same whispering that had first disturbed the Monk, and begun their lengthy exchange.
“Naoe Kanetsugu, Shibata Naganori, Nakajo Fujikasuke...”
The Monk watched, but the Samurai seemed not to notice as his gaze was tipped upward, watching the embers dancing, ascending to the heavens.
The Monk's curiosity won over.
“You were whispering names earlier, too. Those were the first words I heard you speak infact... What is it you're doing? Who are they?”
Uesugi Masakage cleared his throat before answering.
“These are the names of the men who died protecting me that day, the men who died valiantly and brought great honour to the Uesugi Clan. Only the brightest embers from the fire represent their souls as they march to meet Bishamonten, the God of War.”
“Have you named them all now?” Kiyotada continued his line of questioning.
“Two more...” The Samurai said as his eyes scanned the rising embers.
“Ah, Takamata Yoshitsuna... one more... Saitô Tomonobu”
Finished, Masakage closed his eyes momentarily, making a guttural throat noise that sounded a lot like comfort to the Monk.
The flames were dying down now, the embers starting to fade quicker. Kiyotada pulled an old fan from his pack and began gently wafting them, massaging the air carefully to stir the flame in a certain way. His actions caught the attention of the Samurai who watched with intrigue.
“What are you doing?”
Kiyotada ignored the question and continued fanning the dull red-orange flame.
A moment later the flame flickered and changed to a deep yellow as if re-ignited with oil. A large ember broke off and burned almost a brilliant white. Both the Monk and the Samurai watched as it danced gently in the night breeze. The stars above glittered and twinkled, beckoning it to join them as it continued it's dance ever upwards.
Before it was out of sight, Kiyotada spoke;
“Uesugi Masakage.”
Much in the same manner the Uesugi General had done so for all those who had perished protecting him during the battle. For he, along with all the men who faithfully served with him, their Dancing Days had returned thanks to the spring wind.
The severed head turned it's gaze to the Monk, who smiled with admiration.
“So... who did this to me?” Uesugi Masakage asked, he rolled his eyes down to indicate the still-bloody decapitation wound. He knew the Katana blow that had killed him during the battle did not behead him, it must have been done post-battle.
“Like I said... My lord Baba Moromoto tasked me with taking you to see Takeda Shingen in Kai.” Kiyotada responded matter of factly. Allowing Masakage to draw his own conclusions from the statement.
“Haha! So Moromoto does not even have the stomach to take the head from my fallen body!” The Samurai was clearly amused at the cowardice of the Takeda officer.
He regarded the Monk with a small grin of respect upon his dry, pale lips. He had not expected the Monk to have the stomach for it either.
'Maybe Kiyotada has more in common with the Uesugi monks than he thinks.' The head mused.
The two new friends laughed and talked and shared stories of wisdom and glory right through the blustery night in the North Shinano Province. The next day Kiyotada put out the smoldering fire and continued his journey south to Kai, for his audience with Daimyo Takeda Shingen. In the day, the head of Uesugi Masakage was wrapped in a bloodied cloth, helmet and all. The Monk missed the banter that the two had shared, and the head showed no signs of life whatsoever during the daytime.
After a long walk, Kiyotada arrived at Shingen's Fortress. He was walked to the audience chamber.
Inside, lanterns burned subtly casting shadows across the walls in a warming reddish glow. He gently handed over the wrapped up head to one of the Takeda Daimyo's Retainers. It was quickly unwrapped and placed on an ornate tray. The retainer calmly walked to kneel before Takeda Shingen, offering the head up on the plate as if a meal to be eaten.
Kiyotada watched from the side of the room, in the company of the other governing officials of the Clan. He watched as Takeda Shingen leaned forwards from his chair, squinting slightly as he regarded the Uesugi General.
“So this is the man who killed my son and heir Takeda Nagauji? And slew commissioners Suwa Ariyoshi and Kosaka Noamitsu?” Shingen spoke with authority but could not disguise his emotion. He was so close he could feel his warm breath bouncing off the Uesugi's head back at him.
Suddenly, the disembodied head opened it's brown eyes as wide as possible, staring maniacally at the Takeda Daimyo. The reddish glow of the walls and the burning lanterns made it seem like hell. The proud head yelled;
“I AM UESUGI MASAKAGE! BROTHER OF UESUGI KENSHIN! I SHALL HAUNT YOUR CLAN FOR 10,000 YEARS!”
Everyone in the room was startled. Takeda Shingen himself fell backwards off his chair in utter shock, the Retainer dropped the head in fright.
Kiyotada chuckled.
[This message has been edited by Aftermath (edited 03-20-2011 @ 10:17 AM).]