I look back at the battered body, spitting down on the ground and walking over to Fumikage. My hair all wild, strands sticking out, my face half covered in blood. I look around the stronghold, then switch my focus to Fumikage. "Is there a river nearby Fumikage? I need to straighten up besides our forces could take a break, send a small group to route the enemies however never know if they might try to retaliate." I say looking into his eyes and he has a hint of fear or questioning in his eyes. "Are you not gonna speak about what happened up there? There was no honor in humiliating and destroying a opponent like that, you even let him live what if this comes back to harm you? You must think about this stuff Ishi, out of all the times we've sparred you've never lost control like that!" He asks and exclaims looking at me for reasoning. "He's a enemy, not only is he a enemy, he abused Zexis him and his whole clan and they will get what they deserve, they did all these horrible things to him because of his skin color. Just ask him yourself he is now the lord of this stronghold now." I say and as I'm about to turn to leave I turn to look at him again. "I never lost control like that against you because I never see you as a enemy, you might as well be my brother, and you are my protector I trust you with my life." I place my hand on his shoulder looking at him in the eyes, and I nod my head. "Now you have a river for me or not Fumikage, I really need to get clean to anoint Zexis his rightful land." I say as I smile looking at him. He nods and begins showing the way, we go down the path we arrived on and there's a small lake. It took us about ten minutes to get here. "Here you go Ishi, I assume you know the way back I'll set up everything for you and Zexis." He says before he disappears like a shadow between the trees.
I walk down to this lake, dunking my head down rinsing my hair out and cleaning my face off. I look up at the sky after I dunked my head and stand up turning back to the way I came. I find myself thinking about what's to come, first we need to solidify this alliance with Zexis and have him join our clan so he'll be protected I'm sure he'll have no problem with it. I need to wait for my fathers unit to come through here and well have to combine forces and aim for the throat of Shinjitai, that is of course there aren't anymore unhappy surprises. So I assume we'll be posted up for the night at this stronghold at least we have some time to rest today was tiring. I'll have to put off defeating the Chitsu until after Shinjitai is dealt with, cut the head off the snake and it dies. Deep in thought before I knew it I was already at the front of the stronghold. I walk in looking around and most of the villagers from before are looking at me with smiles on their faces, they are liberated and a man they really wanted to help is gonna help them now. A perfect balanced relationship. I make my way over to the main hall of the stronghold waving at the villagers as I pass. Upon entering the hall, I see Zexis and Fumikage conversating with each other, however Zexis is still badly injured and I smile at them both as I approach them. "How's it feel to officially own this place Zexis, are you excited I say we get this place ready for a feast?" I ask him as I approach him sticking my hand out to him, for a shake. "It feels good, but now I feel the urge to ask what you want in exchange, I know you didn't do this for free?" He asks me and at least he's being honest I bet it feels good. "Your right I didn't do it for free, but I have a arrangement for you one that benefits us both. I'm not like the Chitsu, I care not of your skin color all I ask if your fealty to me and that you offer me your sword and walk alongside me on the path of unification. Would you be interested in that?" I look over at him and smirk a bit awaiting his answer as I give him the deal. "That sounds too good to be true, surely you have more details than that?" he asks and I mean of course I do the right thing to do is lay it out for him so I will. "There a variety of things I'm asking joining is not as simple as I make it sound, You will have to sacrifice your own people on the battlefield for me. However you will not be alone I must also send my people to my people, everyone carries this burden. Also I promise you, you will be on the winning side you will have power and freedom over your domain and your people. To ensure my loyalty to you and yours to me we shall become sworn brothers, the path I want you to take is not that of a retainer but that of a daimyo. I shall gift you all of Miwa, and help you expand but together we must unify this land. This is also for the future of your people, not just the villagers but wherever your originally from the people who have been wronged and used as property, This land will be there future home with no prejudice." I say as I take seat looking up at him.
"You have a way with words, I just cant seem to say no to you everything you say just seems so perfect like its worth the sacrifice, but your right I'll do whatever is necessary for my people. However a daimyo I don't think I can become that how is it even possible the people of this land wont accept that." He says looking at me and I just laugh as a reaction. "Let me tell you something Zexis, hahaha it has nothing to do with them accepting it, they could hate it but as long as we are the strongest the will be forced to bend to it." I say looking up at him and I stretch out as the villagers begin to bring out food for everyone. He sits down next to me along with Fumikage and I smile reaching my hand out for a shake. "So do we have a deal Zexis, I Ishi Junichiro will make you one of the strongest daimyo in history, next to myself of course." I say as I look at him smirking as he takes my hand and gives a firm shake. "Of course lord Junichiro I shall follow you to the ends of this land to realize our dream." I nod my head at his response and give him a pat on the back gently aware of his wounds. I look down at my plate, there's some nice fish, cooked to the crisp just how I like it. Then some broth with mushrooms and green onions just delicious the way those vegetables enlighten the broth with their flavor. For the next couple hours time seemed to just fly, as we talked about our feats in battle, everyone saying how I turned into a demonic ogre in the middle of the duel, they've never seen anything like it. I just chuckle and look down at my empty plate having a few drinks of sake just enough to feel it not to get drunk. Before anyone knew it the sun was settling down, and night began to fall off in the distance my fathers flag could be seen. The guards on patrol blew the horn signaling my fathers arrival. He strolled his way through the front gate seeing everyone in the main hall he dismounts his horse and walks in looking me directly into my eyes before breaking out into laughter. "Hahahaha my boy I never doubted you for a moment and no doubt with Karu's help I was able to rest easy I know he was looking after you this whole time!" He looks around for Karu finding him off in the corner on his lonesome, he was watching the evening conspire before my father showed up, the moment he showed Karu's energy seemed to raise through the ceiling spilling out of him almost. Like father, like son as they say I remember the days I would return from battle and my retainers would go wild, they would party through out the night on a good victory, some of them had unhappy house lives because of that I don't feel bad good victories deserve celebration. "Fill me in son your not daimyo yet, your still classified as a retainer for now but one day you'll be able to make your decisions." I nod my head and take in a deep breath. I move my hand over to Zexis having my father look over to him. "This is Zexis he tried to get the stronghold to surrender, they beat him bad but they were already abusing him, we have minimal casualties think to my plan with the horses and dummies. I bestowed this stronghold because the villagers adore him and I'm preparing to enter a brotherhood with him. I defeated the Chitsu daimyo's son and beat him a inch away from his life. He's back in Miwa castle by now, I know I should've killed him but I wanted to deliver fear and anger into the minds of the Chitsu because I'm coming for them next after the Shinjitai." I say as I look up at him and I sigh adding on to it. "Also I lost control, I suspect Karu will tell you. I didn't want to kill him I wanted to make him suffer for everything he's done and I did just that. He wont be wielding any two handed weapons because of me, I took a hand from him and even though he surrendered I broke him, beat him down for vengeance." I admit to my father before taking another swig of the sake in front of me just feeling a bit tipsy not drunk. I feel my father put his hand on my shoulder and he smiles softly looking down at me "It's alright boy, I trust in your decisions your friend there shall keep this stronghold and we will get him Miwa castle, however this conversation about your anger and how to control it must come later. I have to get settled for the night, and we march at dusk tell your friend farewell in the morning before we go, anything could happen in war." I nod appreciating what he's saying and this conversation is best saved for the road tomorrow. I get up and look at my father and then turn to look at my two comrades "I believe its time for me to go lay down I have some things to think about, I'll see you tomorrow Zexis, Fumikage and Father." I get up heading outside to the courtyard where I see my tent set up by the villagers I crawl inside. Taking my armor and kimono off in the corner, thinking to myself that these long night would be warmer if Shiho were here, I cant wait to see her again, but what will she think of me if I cant control this bloodlust. She always hated warfare, so I can only imagine how she would feel about all this. I smack down onto my futon, as my head hits the pillow my eyes close finding myself drifting through my dreams.