Clan 13: Ren Sanada

Kira Akio was nothing like his older brother.

He was younger then Sumio, his face less scarred, and he always had always have a calm expression on his face.

However, Kira Akio was even less like his father.

Kira Uda was a strict diaymo of his clan, while Ren saw Akio smile once. His hands never fluttered towards his katana like his father or brother's, as if he had control of every movement he made.

Ren enjoyed watching Akio the most. He was young - perhaps Yukimara's age - but he was the leader that Ren wished the Sanada clan had. Akio knew what to say, he knew when to say it, and he always thought through everything before he did it.

Meanwhile, Yukimara had left his rooms only once in the week since Kira Sumio's assassination. The Kira clan refused to leave until they found the killer of the heir, and without Yukimara talking to them as the diaymo they weren't getting anywhere.

Ren had dared to talk to him only once.

She'd stepped through the door of his bedroom hesitantly, after a servant had told her he was feeling sick.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

Yukimara laid on his bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. He didn't even move as she walked towards him.

"Of course I'm alright," he responded, his voice hoarse.

Ren said nothing as she waited for him to continue.

"I did one thing, Ren. One thing for this clan. I thought it was a good idea. The alliance was supposed to help us, we were supposed to get food for our people. I was so proud of myself for finally stepping up as a leader."

She didn't say anything. She had always assumed that she was helping him lead the clan and they worked together. Yukimara didn't seem to think so.

"I got a little nervous when you were upset about it. You're the older one, so I knew you were right and I shouldn't have arranged your life without asking. Everything was going okay. Then my one thing I did blew up in my face. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I let you down."

His voice was starting to crack and Ren had to close her eyes for a second.

He was so unprepared for the death of their father. Everyone always thought that Yukimara had plenty of time to prepare to lead the clan, but he had become leader at sixteen years old.

Four years later and he still wasn't ready.

Ren could only blame herself. Had she taken too much responsibility? How could she help him anymore? She only wanted to be a good sister, but it was only hurting.

She left without saying anything else.

---

"Must you join us?" said Sanada Juro, a distant relative of Ren's and one of their leading samurai generals.

"I am under orders from Sanada Yukimara to attend every battle strategy meeting and report back to him. He deeply regrets being unable to attend, and I am sorry if you disagree with him," said Ren rather curtly.

Sanada Juro scowled - he hated having a woman at his meetings - and Ren saw the side of Kira Aiko's mouth twitch.

Six of them sat around a table and looked at the map that was laid out. Four were the Sanada clan's top military generals, and then there was Ren and Aiko, who insisted on observing their strategies. He claimed that, even though the alliance between the Kira and Sanada clans failed, he still wished for them to be on good terms.

"Well, as mentioned in a previous meeting, we need to find more food," continued Juro. "Our clan is quickly running out of and the people will be angry if we don't provide something soon."

"I suggested that we limit the amount being sold and create rations. This famine cannot last forever, so if we can survive it we will be okay," said another general.

The third and fourth generals nodded and mumbled words of agreement.

Aiko didn't say anything. He was staring at the portion of the map labelled Kato Clan, the area directly next to the Sanada clan.

"Rations wouldn't be a sustainable way to get through this famine. We cannot know how long it will take, and we might still run out of food," stated Ren.

Everyone turned towards her with a look of surprise, and Sanada Juro even looked offended. He could live with a woman observing his meeting, but for her to make a comment? Ren didn't realize his eyes could open so wide.

"What are you saying?" said Aiko, with a glimmer of a grin on his face.

Ren suppressed a smile and continued, "Managing our food supply is very important, and I am not completely ruling out the idea of rations, however making more would solve the issue completely. I believe I am saying that if we gain control of more farmland through a series of attacks on the Kato clan's border, we will have a surplus to keep us alive through this famine."

The four generals stared at her blankly. Perhaps it was because they were amused that she dared to speak or intrigued by her idea. Or maybe it was because her strategy closely resembled all of Yukimara's.

"I don't think that's too horrible of an idea," said Aiko. "With the rationing and more land, your clan may be able to come out of this famine stronger than ever."

The rest of the men agreed with Aiko - they would agree with the Kira clan's eldest son before her any day - and they spent the rest of the meeting planning their attack on the Kato's farmland.

When they agreed to move their troops in two days, the generals filed out of the room, satisfied as if they had come up with the idea themselves. Before she could leave, Kira Aiko made a slight move of his hand and Ren knew that he wanted her to stay behind.

"That was a good idea, taking the farmland," he said.

He was much taller than Ren, which wasn't that impressive, almost everyone was, and she had to look up to see his face.

"It was a good idea, thank you for coming up with it. I know you were looking at the map hoping someone else would say it."

Aiko grinned. "I was just wondering if you would come up with it. Lord Sanada wouldn't send you if he didn't think you were capable of helping. Surely he trusts his generals?"

His tone made it very clear that he knew Yukimara didn't actually send Ren. The Sanada clan's leader didn't seem to care much about what happened at the moment, and Ren was just taking advantage of the situation to make sure that her clan was running well.

"I don't think Sanada Yukimara thought about his generals. Perhaps he simply wanted someone else to see if everything is going okay while he is ill."

"I'm sure he does. How good of an archer does he think you are? Sanada Yukimara might even order you to join my archer unit in the upcoming battle. None of my men would mind an extra soldier appearing the hour before we leave."

Ren nodded thoughtfully, but inside her excitement was building. She'd only been in a real battle once, but she never actually fought.

"I think that Yukimara would think that is an excellent idea."

---

The servant's hands were thin and small, but she was fast as she tied Ren's hair up. Ren watched the girl brush and pin her hair until it looked short.

"Thank you," said Ren when the girl finished.

"Please be safe, my lady. I'm not sure how we could tell your brother that you were injured."

Ren smiled at the servant. "I'll be fine."

Ren checked that her belt was tied tight around her kimono and her quiver of arrows was full before she walked out towards the barracks where the Kira archers were staying.

"You're late, I didn't think you were going to show. I'm glad your brother allowed you to come," said Kira Aiko as he walked up from behind her. "The swordsmen have already gone, we're leaving now."

Aiko was wearing light armor and Ren realized she was severely underdressed for battle. She had only a kimono, her bow and several small knifes tied around her belt.

She had forgotten her katana in her rooms.

The Sanada's army wasn't very large, and the battle didn't call for all of the troops, but the Kira clan's archers made them appear like a strong force. Ren still wasn't sure why Kira Aiko decided to send several units to help, perhaps he was just getting bored and wanted a good battle.

"Where is Lord Kira?" asked Ren. She hadn't seen the other clan's diaymo ever since the wedding ceremony.

"He left several days ago to keep control over our clan. I think he wanted to leave me in control of our remaining troops here now that I'm inheriting the clan."

Ren nodded.

They walked the rest of the way in silence, occasionally making a remark. The closer they got to the Kato territory, the quieter the archers became. They were preparing for a battle.

The clashing of swords could be heard a half a mile away, and she realized her heart was beating much faster than she would like.

Aiko seemed to notice the sudden stiffness in her walk and he said, "Stay in the back lines, watch what we do."

He walked up to the front of the pack and resumed his place as the leader. The archers slowed until they reached the top of a small hill and had a clear view of the fighting on the farmland.

The swordsmen that had already arrived were fighting against the swordsmen and cavalry of the Kato clan.

"Ready," said Aiko. The front archers knelt and pulled back their bowstrings.

"Aim." They each focused on a target. Most were going for the horses, who were running towards them.

"Fire." It was almost like an explosion as all of the archers let go of their arrows at once. Horses and men fell down, and Ren was amazed at their accuracy.

The attention was towards them, and the Kato swordsmen started to try and push to get to the archers.

Aiko's archers were incredible. They could follow a target moving on the battlefield and hit them perfectly in the shoulder. Ren watched them as they shot row after row of arrows before he decided to join.

She pulled back her bow, which was as tall as her, and found a soldier who had broken out of the masses and was coming towards her. She aimed at his right shoulder, which was an injury that would stop him from being able to do anything without killing him.

The arrow flew straight into him. It landed directly in the hole in his armor and he fell down.

"Do that again," said Aiko. She didn't even notice him walk next to her.

Ren did. She knew her shot was good, but with the yelling and chaos around her, her eyes could see more clear and her hands were completely steady.

"Again."

She shot again.

Never did Ren kill someone, because she simply didn't want to. She just wanted them to be unable to fight.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Aiko asked as he aimed his shot.

Ren pulled back her arrow and looked at her next target. "Hours of practice and lots of patience. Exactly how you learned."

The Kato's army was getting nearer and the Sanada swordsmen were falling back. More soldiers were breaking through and getting to the archers, and they didn't have enough to keep them back.

"Move back," yelled Aiko to his soldiers.

They seemed to have one mind, because everyone walked backwards at once. Nobody turned their bow away from the battle.

However, when Ren went to walk back Aiko grabbed her arm. "Stay. We need you in the front."

She shot three more soldiers down, but her hands began to shake. There were more Kato troops here than they expected, and Sanada's soldiers weren't holding up well.

"Faster. Shoot more," ordered Aiko.

She tried to, but after two misses Ren had to slow down again.

What was she doing? She had never done anything like this before, why did Aiko think she could speed up?

The battle was getting closer to her and she wanted to retreat with the rest of the archers, but Aiko stayed in place. She couldn't leave without him.

Two more misses. Ren almost shot one of her own men."I'm going in. I wish you had your katana, but you're going to have to stay here."

Ren nodded as Aiko pulled out his katana and ran forwards. She was alone on the hill, the rest of the archers had already gone back.

She watched as Aiko brought down soldier after soldier. He was almost as amazing with his katana as with his bow, but it probably helped that Ren was shooting everyone that tried to attack from behind.

Her hands stopped shaking when she realized that she couldn't miss or else she would hit Aiko.

Arrow after arrow flew, and the Kato soldiers were dwindling. The Sanada soldiers seemed to have plenty of energy now that Aiko was there, and they were gaining more land as time went on.

Ren grinned as she watched the victory unfold.

Clan 14: Yuudai Kato

"So, how do I look?" Was my unsure question.

"You look like the Dyamio." my brother, Ryo said with his hand rubbing his chin in thought.

Looking down, I observe the new kimono I have on. I guess it's not too awfully different than my usual one; it's just more grand.

There's no way I'll be able to blend in anywhere.

"Look, I know what you are thinking. You'll get used to it."

Ryo's attempt to comfort me was in vain. There's a growing knot in my stomach and I'm starting to feel like I might hurl. My world has changed so fast that my head is spinning. There's only so much pressure a guy can take and I think I'm at the end of my rope. A man knocks on the sliding door that separates me from my responsibilities.

"I'm sorry, Lord Daik...Yuudai, but your uncle wishes to have an audience with you."

"Very well." Feigning a confident smile we head outside where my uncle waits for me.

"Come, walk with me Lord Yuudai." My uncle says with a proud smile on his face .

We walk down hallways and around corners before we enter what I remember to be a room that is used for political entertainment. Looking around I quickly recognize the banner proudly sporting our family crest.

"Do you remember your political lessons I arranged for you, Lord Yuudai?" My uncle starts.

"Just call me Yuudai-dono, uncle. And ya, I remember. Why do you ask?"

He leads me to a huge chair at the far end of the room and gestures for me to sit down.

"If it is your wish, I will call you Yuudai-dono. But you should get used to being called Lord Yuudai."

"Yes, uncle."

"I know that this must be hard to process. I can see that the burden weighs heavy on your mind. Being the Dyamio is a big responsibility, but I want you to know that I will be right here as your adviser."

Just as I open my mouth to thank him, we are interrupted by a servant who bursts in uninvited. My uncle gives him a frustrated look as the man speed walks to me and bows at my feet.

"Lord Yuudai, representatives from the Asai clan are here to speak with you."

No words exit my open mouth.

HELP!

Seeing the panic cross my face, my uncle gives me a nod to say, "Go ahead".

"Where are they right now?"

"In the front room, my lord."

Why would the Asai clan be here, to declare war perhaps!"

"Send them in."

"Yes sir."

After he leaves I give my uncle a weird look. Just as I thought the knot in my stomach couldn't get any bigger, it did. First day of being Dyamio and I've already got to deal with the other clans.

"Did you know of this uncle?"

"I did not. As I was saying, I will be there right by your side if you need anything. Even if you need me to fully step in, I will be here."

"Thank you uncle."

"Lord Daiki!" Came a voice. We look over to the door we came from and see two people; a man and a woman. The man runs to my uncle and bows his skinny frame with much respect and flair to the wrong man.

"Please, don't call me lord. I've just given up my title to my nephew."

The man turns to me as a look of surprise mixed with embarrassment spreads across his middle-aged face. He quickly bows to me and starts talking again.

"Oh! I see now! When did this happen?! Oh you look so nice!"

UGGHH! THIS GUY REMINDS ME OF MY GRANDMA!

"Umm, uncle. Do you know this man?" The distain for this man was coming across in my voice more than was politically acceptable. My uncle sighs.

"He's my brother-in-law."

"You have an in-law in the Asai clan?!"

"He's my wife's brother." He puts a hand to his drawn face.

"Where is she by the way?" The man interrupts.

"She's in a different village running some errands." Daiki says with wavering patience. "Now. What did you want, Suga?"

The woman steps in and says with a slow bow. "We've heard from our spies that the Sanada clan is preparing to invade your land. We've brought a unit of men to aid you in battle. I'm sorry we couldn't bring more. We fear we will have to fight the Hojo clan."

My uncle holds his hand up in reassurance. "No need to apologize. We understand the position you're in. We thank you. How many days do we have?"

"Not two more day until they're at your borders."

I'm way to lost by now, my mind is still on the Asai clan showing up here. I heard something about the Sanada clan, then the Hojo clan, and maybe something about a unit of men. I'm so glad Daiki took over. They go on talking but there's no way I'm going to understand.

"Wait, what now? Explain it slower please."

The three stop talking and look at me at the same time.

"My dearest apologies my lord. It turns out that the Sanada clan is preparing for an invasion. Our friends here have graced us with some extra men from their clan."

My mind is exploding trying to comprehend my new position let alone a...

Why would they attack? They know that this will mean war!

"So you said we have two days? Get my men ready for a battle!"

"Yes my lord."

I get off the throne and start running back the way I came. Ryo is still waiting near the changing room when I get to him. He quickly stands up and jogs towards me. As I get to him I put my hand on his shoulder.

"The Sanada is coming to invade our land. I need you to get everyone ready."

"What? How do you know this?" Ryo says in confusion.

"There's no time to explain. Just go and do as I say!"

"Ok. Where are you going?"

"I'm going to get Kazuki. He will want to be in on this." A strange sense of comfort washes over me at the though of my older brother. He's always had a knack for war. I just need to find him.

He's here somewhere I know it, oh ya he's in the military camp just outside the village!

Ten minuets later I'm standing outside one out of what seems like a million identical tents. In fact the only reason I know it's my brother's is his extra pair of clothes outside. My hand reaches to open the curtain when I hear his deep voice.

"You may enter, whoever's outside."

He's sitting cross-legged on the floor with a cup of tea in his hands. His back is slightly bent and still his head almost touches the top of the tent. My older brother is the only one I feel small next to. He's the bastard son of my father and a Siberian slave. He inherited my father's looks but got his mother's tall thick body. He is, by far, the tallest and strongest man I know.

"Hello, Lord Yuudai." He says with an overly-dramatic bow.

"I need a favor from you." At that moment I hear Ryo's muffled yell from across the camp. Kazuki hears it too and gets a concerned look on his face.

"Ok?" He says questioningly.

"First though let me ask you a question." Sitting down I can't help but get a smile on my face. "How's your taste for blood?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The armor weighs me down more than I remember. I guess it's been a long time since I've been in full costume, so to speak. As we are waiting, the sound of the men moving in their metal armor reminds me of my aunt's pots and pans clanking in the wind. It's an erie sound and it sets my already frayed nerves on edge.

"So Kazuki, do you remember the plan?" I ask. He is standing beside me in heavy armor. Regular samurai armor with studded plates guarding his shoulders and his chest.

"Yes. But do they?" He retorts.

Thanks to Suga we could bring extra men. We have a unit of archers up front, then spearmen and swordsmen. Ryo is up front with the archers. The bow was always his speciality. An unfortunate fact today.

I see the enemy. The general of the archers calls out the orders to "Load. Aim. Fire!" as soon as they are in firing range. The first volley of arrows is loosed on their deadly course. The results were less effective than I hoped. It took only minutes before we were shielding ourselves from the rain of enemy arrows. I look up to the front and see several of my men fall. I scan quickly and find Ryo alive and reloading his bow.

Please be ok. Don't die like she did. Defending me.

Focus!

Another volley. Another hail storm to take cover from. Back and forth until sufficient ground is covered between the two armies. They are now close enough for phase two. Swordsmen and spearmen.

In a flash our archers retreat behind our army. Spearmen emerge and stop the much surprised enemy. In the time it took to adjust their tactics our swordsmen stepped up and the true battle began.

I find my first victim. My down strike is blocked but I recover. My katana finds it's home in the man's chest. Another walking dead fills his place and takes a wild forward stab which I block. A trail of blood follows my sword's movements. My blade cuts deep into his stomach and he collapses to the ground. To my right I hear a man's scream and look to see Kazuki bashing his iron club into a man's skull. He's really something to behold, being a head taller than any man I see here and three times as strong. The club he welds is two feet in length and weighs fifty plus pounds. It looks like a child's toy in his massive hands. He straightens his back and breaths hard as blood drips off the metal studded weapon. Another challenger comes in front of me and waits for my move. I lead with a right swipe to the neck and he counters with a forward jab to my gut.

This guy is quick!

I move my right foot back but not in enough time. I feel the cold steel graze my abs.

"Yuudai, duck!"

Kazuki's roar reached my ears just in time. A katana from behind slices the air right over my head. Spinning to the right as I duck lands me in front of my new opponent. Kazuki instinctively takes my previous opponent. No words needed. We just knew. Together we left the two in a blood pool.

As the din of battle fills the air Kazuki never leaves my side. A little favor I had asked of him earlier. A new voice reaches our ears.

"So this is the all powerful Yuudai?"

Turning our heads we see the source of the sarcasm. She's dressed just like the rest of her men, ready for battle. A female warrior, a scar on her face, and twin fans. It could be no one else.

"Ren." I whisper. Kazuki steps forward but I put my hand out to stop him. "Leave her to me. You join the others." He glares at her for a second before leaving. "Oh! I finally get the pleasure of meeting the bride. Heard your wedding went well."

"How do you know?"

"I have my sources!"

She is a skilled warrior. The fans will be hard to counter. Perhaps I should have

kept Kazuki.

In the few days before battle I had checked into her history. All I could find out is that she was forced to marry some dude from a nearby clan and that it didn't go well.

"I too, know things, Yuudai ODA!" She purposefully draws out that last part.

I grit my teeth at the sound of my father's last name.

"How did you come to know that?!"

"I also have "friends"'. She remarks snidely.

This thief has stolen my tactics. She is using my history to get under my skin!

Taking advantage of my distracted mind she makes her move. I back up just in time and see multiple blades come a fingers width away from my eyes.

Focus!

"So why did you attack my clan? Was it for our land, money, our farms maybe?" The question has been nagging at my head this whole time... and I need to keep my mind engaged.

"Why did you send your assassin for my husband's blood?"

What?

"You got the facts wrong. We are not the ones who killed your lame husband. Did you even love him?"

Oooo! I got her now!

Shrieking with rage, she charges. She pulls her katana from it's sheath with her right hand. Following the momentum, she spins to the left aiming for my throat. I block her first blow with the hilt of my sword skyward. Spinning over her right shoulder, she tries a down strike to the chest. Letting the downward momentum of my sword complete it's work, I aimed for her weapon. Her sword fell from her grasp. Pressing the tip of my sword to her throat only one thought enters my mind.

I win!

Breathing hard we take a look around. Almost all of her men are dead. She's lost this battle and she knows it.

"I will let you live this once so you may avenge your husband. But do not cross these borders as my enemy again."

Backing away, she picks up her sword, sheaths it, and orders her men to retreat. With the sound of my men cheering, I clean my blade.