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400 Years Apart	By : Cynthermes Category: +M to R > Mirage of Blaze Views: 4238 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Mirage of Blaze and its characters solely belong to Kuwabara Mizuna. I’m just going to creep into a corner of her sand box and play the part of a wannabe historical writer. No profit has been made in the construction of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Chapter Two:

From I to thee and thee to me

A/N: Kagetora unknowingly wakes up in the body of his former self… but something isn’t quite right…

Disclaimer: (See chapter one)

A young daimyo’s son coughs salt water out of his lungs as he stood weakly, shaking like a leaf against a large rock. He almost drowned tonight.

There was a strong storm coming and he had chosen the usually moonlit-path of the seaside to return home. Yet instead of the moon, dark and heavy rainclouds hovered on the horizon. It had not been raining when he left earlier for slumming. Now rain came down in torrents soaking him from head to foot. His kimono clung to him like a second skin and his hair was plastered messily on his face. He was cold to the bone and he didn’t think it would get any worse when suddenly a large wave came hurtling towards him sweeping him away at sea.

Fortunately he managed to cling to a large rock and found his way gingerly back to shore. He didn’t survive unscathed though. The first surge pulled him under making him swallow a large amount of salt water in the process. Also for a split second his consciousness winked out as if he suffered quite a blow. A dull throbbing pain in the head and bruised limbs were the rewards of his escapade. His brothers would be very pleased, he mused unhappily while he dragged his battered legs back to the Odawara-jo.

“I’m home.” He called as a servant pulled the shoji to admit him inside the drawing room. He had his almond eyes cast down as he continued to drip rain and salt water on his brother’s tatami⁰. Even without looking he knew his elder brother sat at the center aisle flanked by two kokujin¹ in his left and right side, furious no doubt.

At first silence only greeted him back and then, “What are the servants in this house doing? Treating my brother like a stranger and leaving him in those cold clothes!”

Flurry of movement, grave apologies and then polite hands (as they could get) were pulling him to the side stripping him of his wet layers of silk and rubbing him vigorously to dry before an army of servants dressed him quickly and efficiently in warm comfortable clothes. When they were done, they bowed and left as swiftly as they came like they were never there in the first place.

Even though he was presentable again he didn’t dare move on the spot where he stood until his brother dismissed his retainers and beckoned him forward with one hand. The two of them were alone now.

He was in for one nasty punishment he just knew it.

“Saburo, come here. Try to hide your guilt a little.” His brother said exasperatedly like he was dealing with a very stubborn child. “I want you as close to me as possible.”

Saburo carefully approached and when he deemed it safe, sat directly across his brother only to be pulled unceremoniously on the elder one’s lap. He yelped in surprise and moved too late when his aniue made one distinct sniff. “Even the storm is no match for you. You did go drinking again, didn’t you?”

If both sea and skies were unable to wash the scent of sake it was no use lying now. “Yes.” He admitted waiting for the blow to come.

But it didn’t and his aniue only sighed. “How many times are you going to do this? Saburo you are underage. You know that it isn’t right to consume sake with that seventeen-year-old body. Wait until you’re older then you can drink with me and Ujimasa-ani.”

Hearing the name of their eldest brother brought goose pimpled shivers that have nothing to do with the cold. “But I was drinking in memory of Father! Ujiteru-ani and Ujimasa-ani are fortunate enough to have drunk with him but I… I will never have the chance, will I?” Unwanted tears were welling in those cherished amber eyes and Ujiteru fought hard not to be drawn into them. Those eyes had such power to weaken the toughest of men².

“No Saburo. You have done this too many times. You leave me no choice but to punish you.” His anuie said sternly. “Kotarou.”

The shoji directly behind them opened with a soft click and the young head of the Fuma Clan knelt respectfully in their presence. “My lord.”

“You are to be dealt with twenty lashes.” Ujiteru’s word was law.

“Yes, my lord.” The ninja accepted already removing the upper part of his clothing. Saburo seriously wanted to protest. He eyed the stoic young man warily and guiltily as he crouched submissively before them offering his vulnerable back to the mercy of the whip. Kotarou showed no emotion, no desire, or any indication he might be human beneath that neutral expression. An unfeeling stone had been chosen as his protector since birth. This young man four years his senior had been born to be his shadow. Kotarou accompanied him wherever he went whether it was known or unknown to him. The latter part made him forget several times that he was never alone. Perhaps surviving tonight’s ordeal in the tumultuous seas was not sheer luck after all.

Kotarou had saved him several times in the wake of danger and most of the time, he had done it undetected. But that didn’t qualify him for saving him against punishment. That was completely against his pride and his honor.

The first strike was about to fall when Saburo found his voice. “No! Aniue wait! Why is he being punished instead of me? I will not allow this!” He clutched and pleaded at his brother’s sleeves.

Ujiteru laughed but there was no humor in it. “Do not think so highly of yourself Saburo. Kotarou is not doing this for you.”

“What do you mean?” Kotarou follows him like a shadow. A dawning realization from that thought made his belly churn and he was ill enough to close his eyes when the first three lashes were given generously without delay.

Saburo apparently forgot where he was. In the four corners of this room, Ujiteru held absolute authority so what made him think that Kotarou would be spared under that sphere of influence?

“Why don’t we ask Kotarou himself what he has done to earn his young master’s punishment?” Ujiteru narrowed his eyes dangerously on the ninja’s crouched form. He was beaten facing his lords so the wounds of his back were concealed from view. “Kotarou, tell us why you are being punished.”

“I…” The fifth blow was particularly painful; reopening a fresh wound. But being highly conditioned to pain, Kotarou took it unflinchingly. “I failed my duty to the young master.”

“How so?” Detached, callous. Saburo had rarely seen this side of his Ujiteru-ani.

“I watched him drink sake.” The tortured ninja answered in between his tenth and twelfth whipping, not an ounce of pain lacing his words.

“You just watched.” The second overlord of the Hojo clan reiterated.

“Yes.”

“And therefore?”

“I couldn’t have prevented an incident of the young master being poisoned in his sake.” Kotarou exhaled after the final blows like he was relaxed instead of hurt by the beating.

“Five more lashes.” Ujiteru’s reply stunned everyone in the room.

“Aniue!” Saburo was held down until it was over. He was forced to see through it all like he was the one truly being punished.

“Kotarou.”

“My lord.” The ninja remained on his position steadily soaking the master’s tatami with his blood.

“My brother’s life is precious. If anything were to happen to him I do not know what more awaits you. Is there anything else you would like to say before you’re dismissed?”

“I will lay my life first before I let any harm befall upon the young master.” Kotarou had to turn his back and show how much damage had been done to it before leaving the same way Saburo had come.

Saburo knew right away that was purposefully intended to make him “witness” his punishment. If a memory of this incident would have a sickening replay in his head every time he sees his protector he would find it dealing with Kotarou harder than ever. The man must absolutely hate him after this.

“Saburo, in a matter of years you would become the third master of this household. You would join me and Ujimasa-ani in battles to come. An army of your own shall fight for our people. Every action a daimyo takes would be reflected on his subordinates.” Ujiteru lectured the dark head buried on his chest and stroked the heaving back affectionately. “Never forget that.”

The younger one nodded as he continued to shed silent tears on his aniue’s yukata.

When their father, previous Sagami no Kami³ Hojo Ujiyasu had been alive, he had planned to make his youngest and third surviving child as a mediator among alliances. In short he was going to be a hostage to seal alliances of the Hojo Clan to gain advantage over the feudal wars. When Ujiyasu wanted to establish an alliance with the Takeda, his second eldest son, Ujiteru opposed his wishes. In order to prevent any internal disputes within the family, Zuikeiin interfered and chose to be the hostage herself for the sake of her three remaining children.

She went into the Takeda household against the wishes of her husband and declared to Shingen, “Here is your hostage.”

Kai no Kami₄ Takeda Shingen didn’t accept and sent her safely back to her husband. Misfortune struck on her journey and she died of sudden illness a few miles away from home. Grief-stricken Ujiyasu took sole blame for the incident. The death of his wife was a severe blow against his psyche and he refused to speak with anyone even his children until his unprecedented death.

Gossip and hearsays aside, most credible accounts say the late lord was lured into a duel of sorts by a mysterious renegade monk wandering a nearby village at that time. The renegade monk known only by name as “Benkei” wagered on life in exchange for beautiful katanas.

“I will allow you to cross this bridge if you defeat me in a duel.” The renegade monk challenged him.

The world-weary and still grieving Ujiyasu accepted. Having left his well-established lordship over his two eldest sons, he felt no other purpose to live and allowed himself to be killed with ease.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the fairly easy duel, Benkei didn’t collect the daimyo’s sword. Instead a message was found within its sheath that said, “I am the murderer of Ujiyasu Hojo. Anyone who wants to do battle with me for revenge can find Benkei within the Uesugi.”

The Hojo brothers, Sagami no Kami Ujimasa and Mutsu no Kami⁵ Ujiteru were instantly furious having lost their parents one year apart. The murderer dropped the name of the Hojo clan’s most powerful enemy clan yet. Was Benkei’s words truth or simply a trap that was meant to spark a fight between the Hojo and Uesugi into a meaningless battle? Until now, no one in Odawara knows for sure. The elder brothers made no move or have shown any signs that the provocation had affected them in some way.

However their youngest brother had committed himself on revenge. Saburo had sharpened both his skills and wit on the day he would bring Benkei’s head on his father’s tomb.

XxXMOBXxX

Goblin music resonates hypnotically in the castle’s vast and well-maintained garden. More than a month has passed since the incident of Saburo’s grave misdemeanor. The current Sagami no Kami had his eyes closed as he enjoyed his mid-afternoon tea. Nothing else comes close to this. Tea and the quiet of his household were ought to bring such bliss.

It was here in this garden where he could forget about his woes, his sorrows, and pains. In this little haven, he could let go of all his burdens and responsibilities as head of the Hojo Clan. He was simply a doting older brother who listens to their youngest play his fine skill on the flute. His dark eyes watch those slender fingers dance on the instrument with studious appreciation.

Saburo seem inviolable. To touch and even to look at him in this way was like a sacrilege to the gods themselves. Unbeknownst to the boy, his eldest brother loves him very much too. His brand of love however wasn’t selfless; filled with questionable intentions and therefore he prudently keeps his distance. His young brother might find his behavior frigid and passionless comparable to a certain protector but cold men have their reasons. And one of those reasons might actually be for the better of his well-being.

He had heard his retainers speak of Saburo one day. The Matsuda twins were two of his most loyal retainers. He didn’t expect them to be the greatest threat to him in a way he never knew possible. He found them talking amongst themselves in low voices how much they appreciate their young master’s beauty in the unholiest of ways.

“I think I would prefer Saburo-sama to a woman any time of day.” The younger Matsuda said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

“I agree. I always dreamed of running my hands on that creamy, smooth skin of his.” Another ashigaru commented.

“Fools! He’ll cut you with a blade faster than you can lay a finger on his hair!” exclaimed the elder Matsuda. “Didn’t you know he carries a tanto wherever he goes? He practically sleeps with it.”

“It doesn’t matter as long as I can put it in! I’ll even offer him to cut it if he wants to after I have my way with him!”

“Seriously? !” Boisterous laughter erupted.

You vile dogs. Ujimasa cursed them, thinking of a million possibilities how they could shrivel up and die. He had been a blind impudent fool! How dare they? In his house they talk of such dirty fancies! And to think that they only reflect the ugliness in his heart in a more crude way…

He was torn between hating them and hating himself.

In the end his hate bled into Saburo.

That was when he thought of a brilliant solution to this predicament. It was their late father’s idea of utilizing the finest shinobi for warfare. As the current Sagami no Kami he would use the emerging prodigy of the Fuma Clan to protect Saburo. He had done at least this much.

“Ujimasa-ani.”

A familiar baritone voice snapped him away from his reverie. “Ujiteru.”

“Can I accompany you for tea?” The second overlord politely asked and only sat when the clan head nodded. “I was calling your name a number of times but you didn’t seem to hear me. Is there something bothering you?”

Ujimasa shook his head. Ever the frugal man for words, Ujiteru was not surprised as he sipped his tea more often than clear his throat.

Both noticed that the flute had stopped playing.

“He’s gone out again.” The Clan Head remarked.

“Yes, it seems he does that more often nowadays.” Ujiteru nodded towards the inconspicuous servant who poured him tea and took a delicate sip.

“To go drinking?” Ujimasa glared at his tea as if he found it distasteful now. “You know he’s underage. Have you gone so lenient on him?”

“No. He knows what will happen if he repeats that misbehavior.” The younger overlord reassured him. “Aniue, you’re worried about Saburo’s safety more than usual. What makes you so?” A confident statement, Ujimasa glowers even more.

“In just a few years he’s going to be the third overlord of the Hojo. I want him to have no flaws, no stains in his honor that the people can discredit him for.”

Ujiteru watches spilt tea from Ujimasa’s cup ominously. “I was afraid I’m having these doubts alone.”

“They are my kokujin. It is my responsibility to set them straight… if it’s not yet too late.”

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Translations:

0 – Japanese floor mats

1 – Average or middle-ranking retainers

2 – Kagetora’s tiger’s eyes… you know that already!

3 – Lord of Sagami

4 – Lord of Kai

5 – Lord of Mutsu
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400 Years Apart