May ■4■■, 2008, Hideyoshi Hashiba
It was a hell of a day.
Have you ever seen a town burned by war? A wreck rolling on one side. A strawberry that devours dead meat. A burnt house. A hungry ghost roams the stinking square. The cheeks are lean, the eyes are filled black with hatred, and I can't eat properly. The abdomen is dimpled like a baldness, and the body is uncontrollably exposed to bones and skins with raised bones.
Curse the irrationality of this world.
Drinking from daylight, his father-in-law ridicules him when he seizes the money he earned desperately, beats him on the cheek, and looks at the blowing water. I hate my mother for selling such scraps to flirt with me.
I envy those who dress themselves in fine clothes, and pour out their love as a matter of course.
Hatred of the samurai who exploit the weak as they kick the weak as if they were worms, while mocking the weak.
And I can't change the status quo. I accepted that I had no choice but to continue to be taken irrationally. I hated myself the most in the world.
Envy. Rage. Greed. Hate.
A monster that dwells in the depths of its heart like mud. Meet the master. Life in the Oda family. My wife who loved me so much. Even after such a happy day, the monster swirling deep in my chest just faded and never disappeared completely.
... no, of course not. Such ugly things are the essence of lies.
The pure desire to grow stronger was eventually swallowed up by his own desires and turned into a metamorphosis.
- I'll devour everything. I will take down all those who despise you with my hands. I will make all those who laughed at it taste the hell that they have suffered so far.
That was the origin of the tsunami.
The scene switches.
What was shown there was an old man who laughed loudly while surrounded by many people. He turned his back on it and walked on the skeleton with no expression.
Light and darkness.
In contrast, the scene is a true representation of the humanity of Akechi Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi Hashiba, and it seems that the reality that no matter how scorched they are, they cannot go to the same place.
... yeah, let's admit it.
Akechi Mitsuhide. Kaoru admired you.
Respecting such uncertain things as humanitarianism and affection, the memory from the court and the lord was good, and the appearance of being familiar from the people and colleagues was enough to make me envy myself. I was negligent. I was jealous.
I... can't be like you. I can't trust people wholeheartedly. Freaks don't understand people's minds. Because I knew that only my own strength was the last thing I could believe.
Often, some people say that they are people, but that's not true. Tsubaki only touches the surface. Lower your head, lower your hips, examine the other person's information, cut a hand suitable for the situation, and enter a small gap in your mind. That's how I've brought it in to a lot of people.
But that's nothing but empty things. I gained people's trust, and I built them up. However, how was it from the beginning? When everyone was laughing from the bottom of their hearts, how could they be laughing from the bottom of their hearts?
Yeah, that's right.
I'm not as funny as you are. I can't trust people like you. Only fear can truly bind a person. How many people have betrayed you, even those who are full of charm that attracts people like you? How much bitter juice did you make me lick?
Seeing that people were gradually changing, I understood. Surrender with power, bind your mind with fear, and show profit with contract. That's the way to reign in this turbulent world. I don't think it's necessary to feel or be humane.
But you didn't.
There was always a smile beside you. My status, my money, my fame, my childhood...
What's the difference? What's the difference between me and you? Why, you can trust people so easily. Why, it doesn't matter if you betray me. Why is it that you are so rightly present.
Why can't I be like you?
While holding everything you truncated as unnecessary, you sing [happiness] that you can't grasp with these hands wet with blood...
- I hated it.
"...... Ha!"
A sharp pain runs like a grip on your heart, and your awareness suddenly rises. Your breath is short and your throat is burning at the same time.
”GOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”
A white, blurry line of sight that doesn't move a fingertip. Faint sounds. Right next to it, I could sense someone.
(Where are we...? Hell? I'm not supposed to have died then.....)
The last time I saw it that night came to my mind. A sea of fire surrounding us. In it, the figure of a government guard standing in one hand of a blood-soaked sword--
"......?!"
At that moment, a sharp pain runs through your chest as if you remembered it. When I let my upper body rise in pain, there were dozens of bandages wrapped around it and traces of red floating slashes.
"... mmm. I see..."
Trace the scar with your trembling hands.
So I finally understood.
Apparently, Tsubaki lost his life. I've mocked myself that only bad luck is strong enough to survive that situation.
While taking a deep breath, I slowly grabbed my right hand several times and checked my condition. Slight numbness. Feeling of rubbing cloth. The sensation of my hands that I hadn't felt before is slightly returning.
(Apparently, you can still move it)
When I was a little relieved by that, I heard a voice from the side that seemed to be relieved by such a situation.
"Good, it looks like you've regained consciousness."
"...... muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...?"
I turn my gaze to be guided by my voice. There was a boy in his mid teens. I wonder if he was nursing me tightly. With a clear smile, there was a dark neighborhood under my eyes.
"Oh noo... oh..."
My throat withered and I couldn't speak.
"Oh, please wait a moment." I'll have a water bottle ready for you right now. "
Umu
Drinking water while being supported by the boy. At that time, I checked the boy's face with sideways eyes, but I still don't recognize him. However, the atmosphere of the boy felt somewhere nostalgic.
"Mr. Hisuga is going out to procure food." I'll prepare the rice when I get back. If you don't put it in your mouth, it won't heal. "
"... is Xiao Liu still alive?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Last night, to rescue Mr. Hashiba, I bought an ornamental character and went out with determination. If it hadn't been for Hisuga-sama's efforts, I would have been discovered by the enemy.... please send me a compliment from Master Hashiba. Let's have some fun. ”
"I see. Xiao Liu......"
Hold the eyebrows.
Unexpectedly, my chest is burning with the unchanging loyalty of my friends who have ran through the turbulent world together. Betrayed by the guards who were his heart, he would be a part of it.
However, he immediately switched his thoughts and looked around. Now is not the time to be immersed in emotion. In addition to not knowing when he will be attacked, I still don't know who this boy is. Failure to be vigilant will cost us our lives.
Then, the boy wondered what was going on, and shook his head quietly to the side without any problem.
"Please don't worry." Currently, the enemy is marching towards a beautiful country, and there are no fallen martial arts hunters nearby. Besides, we won't be able to find this location, no matter how close our enemies are to pursuing us.... after all, this hideout was built in secret when the Prince was staying here. ”
"... what?"
Unwittingly, he turned his gaze to the boy.
"Apparently, it was used when I went out to Ichii for a long time." We're using a hidden passageway. Only a few people know this place. Even the old curators do not know most of them.... not to mention the fact that the Oda family only learned about this hideout directly from their father. "
"......!? No way..."
The boy and his gaze meet. In her clear eyes, her face was open to the limit.
The figure of a man and a boy in memory overlaps.
"Hashiba-san, I'm sorry I'm late for my call."... my name is Akechi Tenbei Mitsuhide, and my name is Akechi Tenbei Mitsuhide. I thought I'd have to talk to you once. "
What was there was the oblivion of Mitsuhide, who was thought to be dead.