Takashin Ryuga Kunigawa Temple, Chikumae Kunitaka, April 2012
Ruthlessness.
Since when did it come to be called that? In a world that is rapidly losing color, that word is suddenly passing in my head.
"Why, you can kick your life so easily." You can throw away your clanmates and make them into pawns.... you don't have a human heart!! "
Because you will be betrayed.
In-laws and relatives can't maintain a house. You cannot protect your country from enemy invasions. You can't expand your power. We must subjugate the people by overwhelming violence and immediately betray them if we do not smash the relationship between them. I can't trust people who prioritize their own interests from the beginning.
A famous neighborhood, a crowd that pulls their feet together. The buds of rebellion must be thoroughly crushed to protect and sustain the house from these. No matter how small a possibility it may be, it must be picked.
"Why can't you love people...?"
Because he's dead.
My family was destroyed by the main house, my grandfather entrusted me with a will that could be called a curse, and my mother's obsession made me have to live, because you died who always supported me next to me.
People die, people betray. Then you have to love it from the beginning. You don't have to trust me. Then it won't be hard to lose it, will it?
Thousands of landscapes ran through my head, and suddenly your face, which had died that night, passed away. It was like a puppet with a bloody face. Your body is getting cold. A pupil that loses its light.
Yeah, I remember that night. That was the case that day and this time. You were always under the stars.
When my grandfather and father were murdered, seventeen years old. One day, I suddenly ran into a crisis of family demise. I was trapped. Father and grandfather were suspected of rebellion against the master, and killed by the Shojima Shogun Zhou Baba.
I could not swallow the situation, but my grandfather took me to escape under the Kabuchi family in Chikugoku. Therefore, under the leadership of his grandfather, he avenged his grandfather and father and aimed to rebuild the Ryugakuji family.
Yeah, that's right. This is the day I first met you. My grandfather made you a sidekick when he watched me impatiently.
"Yuen Yue, you will stand bearing the Ryuzenji family from now on." I don't want to be in such a tone.
"... sorry"
"... yes, but I know how you feel." Because of the emergency, I had to run away without being able to bury or provide for my parents. You lost your home and your parents all at once. Now, I'll have time to face my heart. Give them ten days' free time. It's a good idea to spend some time away from the crowds because it gives you a sideline.... hey, let's go in! "
Haha, excuse me.
At her grandfather's signal, the woman entered the room alone. Her name is Hatsune, and she looks plain with a mediocre face. There's a lot of women around.
"Thank you very much, young man."
"...... ahh"
That was my first impression of Hatsune.
The two of them met without hindrance, for better or worse. The days with such a first tone were as ordinary as most expected. It is not a matter of exchanging deeds or studying military law or politics. However, the first tone was supported by the shadows to make me feel comfortable.
How grateful that was to me.
It was only on the last day that I realized it.
A mansion built at the foot of a secluded mountain. I was confused by the sudden development of the first few days, but a few days later, life with Hatsune became normal, and on the eighth day, I could eat rice that did not go through my throat. I realized that the support of the first tone had solved my strong heart.
By the time the sun goes down and the stars fill the night sky. I summoned the first tone of the dress to the edge.
Young Master, would you like to call me?
"... this is the last night of my life. I'll hang out with you for a bit."
"... I see. So-"
Hatsune sits next to me. The sideways face seemed to be a natural body as usual. Is that why I'm here? I was naturally opening my mouth.
"Why, you don't say anything." Everyone's sympathetic to my situation. Like his grandfather, he said, aiming at the rejuvenation of the Ryugakuji family. I'm telling you to clear your grandfather and father's mind. Even though, why are you-- "
"Did you want me to tell you?"
".........!"
Words are jammed. Stand up and lower your hips. While combing her hands between her knees, she was hung up without strength.
"No, I didn't want you to say it.... of course, I have a desire to avenge my grandfather and father. But I--"
The first tone hugs my head to block the words that follow. The sound of your heart wrapped in your arms soothes your rough emotions. Even though it was like saying goodbye to a toddler, I didn't think I would reject Sorel for some reason.
"We will defeat the enemy and rebuild the Ryuzaki Temple house." Learn the art of war and politics.... it's certainly a responsibility that will have to be fulfilled more than ever in the future. I can't deny that I'm a maid of honor.... let's see, there's something for young people to do before that. "
"Is that...?"
"I haven't finished farewell to my deceased ancestors yet." Even without a body, you can mourn its death and mourn the dead.... I still can't see the tears of a young man "
"......!?... uu...... uu...... uu......"
Tears overflowed like a weir was cut. The first tone of my back was gently rubbing against me.
"There is no one here but us. Those tears will never be seen by anyone.... that's why you don't have to put up with it anymore. Young man, you did a really good job.”
"Uu...... uuuu...... uuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!"
Each time I passed on a raven's cheek, the curse of "Ryuzaki House Rejuvenation" eroded my heart like a curse.
I forgot my grandfather's hateful face, my mother's desperate and possessed face, the pathetic face of Lord Puchi, and the slightly remaining anxious face of the Ryuzenji clan's clerk group, and now I just keep crying in the arms of Hatsune.
Young man, please stop. To you... I don't want to be called by that name for the first time.
--Now, you...
Overlapping shadows.
Starry nights. A hole in the bottom of my heart was blocked.
But happy days don't often last long.
The following year, his grandfather took his breath away due to his old age, even as he revived the Ryuzaki Temple family by taking advantage of his nemesis.
The words I left behind soon determined the path I had to take.
"You are succeeding the Mizugae Ryuzuki Temple house!!"
"... I understand"
The will becomes a curse and erodes the spirit. And as if my grandfather's curse had changed, my mother persisted in driving me.
After that, as if it had been decided to do so, things went on suddenly.
Destroyed the master, took over the main house, married a widow to consolidate the ground, and while feeling humiliated, gained the backing of Yoshitaka Ouchi.
It was the first time that you supported such a turbulent day. As the situation changed dramatically, the first tone was the same as before. When I returned to the castle, he worked as usual with a smile on his face.
I had a sense of routine in such a trivial scene with Hatsune. It was the only time I felt at ease.
After that, when Yoshitaka Ouchi died and lost his back, I was forced to expand immediately. The turbulent world is weak and strong, and the pile that comes out is struck. The Ryusakuji family, which had only half a force without a back shield, had no choice but to hire a daimyo somewhere or build up a great force to confront them.
I made up my mind to fight to protect my country and my ministers. Fighting isn't enough. Become such a force and enrich your country with more alliances and deals with other countries. I'm sure if we join forces, we'll be able to do something about it.
Hatsune affirmed such a pale ideal with a smile. He encouraged me to make peace.
- Oh, yes. Ishida is lying in front of me, just like I used to be an idiot with a stinking ideal. Is that why you're so asexual?
It was not until two days later that I learned that my child lived in that belly. And it wasn't until three days later that I lost everything.
--Please, you... follow your path...
That's what I said, and the first tone passed away.
The Ryuzenji family continued to expand their forces to meet the expectations of their ministers, and finally the reunification of Higashimae was imminent. Hatsune was poisoned at the hands of a flipped housemate by the plot of the Otomo family who took such a risk on the Ryuzaki family. Protect me.
I still vividly remember the night sky that I gazed at with a broken first tone. The black tears I shed that night kept flowing and accumulating deep inside my chest.
Then, somehow, the black tears that had accumulated in the accumulation turned into mud and turned into a flame named revenge. It was a fire that even burned itself up. At first, I couldn't control it with my own hands...
When I united Higashimae, I didn't get any emotions: "Oh, this is it." Money, honor, power, and country, all have been obtained, but the most precious treasure will never be obtained again.
With a hole in the bottom of my heart, I've lived only to get my revenge.
I hate fallen families who can only be proud of their bloodlines. I hate the maniac who sold the lord for the money in front of him. The ministers hated it when they declared that they were lucky to have died as maidservants. I hate my helpless self, who could only look at you dying in a daze.
The end of the turmoil? The Oda family unifies the world? The Dragon Temple House should be disembarked at the gate immediately.
... this is bullshit!!
This is my fight. It's my revenge. I will destroy Otomo's house! Emperor's command? If you don't obey, you'll make an enemy in the morning? You know that! Don't come screaming from the side!!
You have no idea how much preparation I've made for the destruction of Otomo's house. You don't know how I've grown my power.
Ah, I won't forgive you... I won't forgive you... I won't forgive you!!
Revenge the Otomo family for trampling on my precious treasure. Avenge the Oda family for getting in my way. His eyes, full of hatred, were the eyes of his grandfather and of the melon that he saw that day.
Oh, I'm thirsty.
Nothing fills a hole in the bottom. I understood why the existence of Ishida was such a hindrance.
This is the past I denied. A fool who has lost all that he has done to his feelings. An aspect that will never be recognized as an avenger.
He tramples the weak and scoops his hooves on the wreckage. Disposable victory over the House of Lords. Even so, I will continue to keep a faceless expression like a nobleman.
Why do you think we can be so innocent?
Because when I continued to be scorched by the mud-like anger that nested deep in my chest, I could not smile anymore. Not all of the Shura that walked through Hell had an angry expression on its face.
Well, I won't go to hell until I get my revenge on Otomo's house.
Yeah, that's right.
Revenge was my origin.