Namida Bridge - The End of Brave Generals (6)

About half an hour after the celebratory banquet, Tameuji's party began their journey back to Wada, wanting to leave before the air grew too cold. While Awa-no-kami remained in Sukagawa with Mino-no-kami, Zusho-no-suke was to accompany Tameuji back to Wada along with his father-in-law, Shimotsuke-no-kami. Those remaining behind would soon begin cleaning up the scorched city and clearing away the scattered corpses. They would also be busy dealing with those grieving the loss of their kin, and there would surely be no shortage of depressing work to be done. Thinking of that, it was a relief to be among those returning home.
Released from the tension of battle, the tightness in Zusho-no-suke's mind gradually began to loosen.
There were several routes back to Wada, but the party decided to take the path between Mt. Atago and Mt. Myoken. It was Tameuji's express wish.
Zusho-no-suke had a rough idea of why Tameuji had chosen this path.
It was already evening. Steep cliffs loomed on both sides, the path was dim, and the Kureyazawa stream flowed only in a faint trickle. Although the blue sky had been visible during the day, snow clouds had covered the sky once again, and occasionally, as if remembering to do so, snow flurries danced in the air.
"Stop for a moment."
Tameuji had the procession stop at a small bridge. He must have had someone check it beforehand.
"Zusho-no-suke. Is this the place?"
To his lord's brief question, Zusho-no-suke nodded silently. Tameuji knew that Zusho-no-suke had witnessed the princess's body with his own eyes. The reason Zusho-no-suke had been included in the group returning home was likely because Mino-no-kami had anticipated that Tameuji would want to visit this place.
Zusho-no-suke also pressed his hands together in prayer once more. The place where Tameuji had stopped the procession was the very Namida Bridge where Princess Michiyo had taken her own life. If he closed his eyes, the tragic scene still vividly returned to his mind.
"Kureyazawa... how ironic."
Tameuji muttered to himself. The place of Princess Michiyo's final moments, Kureyazawa and Namida Bridge, were place names that foreshadowed the beginning of a tragedy.
Perhaps Princess Michiyo had felt the same way.
Tameuji did not move from that spot for a long time, as if chasing the shadow of his late wife. However, the day was fading by the moment, and the veil of night was closing in.
Before that tragedy, for some reason, the princess had wanted to see Riku. Zusho-no-suke had been something of an afterthought, but the words the princess had spoken to him at the end were unforgettable.
Cherish the child that is to be born. The princess had left those words to the two of them before embarking on her final journey.
Zusho-no-suke possessed an average amount of faith, but this time, rather than the protection of the Buddha, it might have been that the late Princess Michiyo had protected Zusho-no-suke for the sake of Riku, whom she had been so fond of.
"Zusho-no-suke. I heard the princess stopped by your house before returning to Sukagawa."
Tameuji, who had been silently pressing his hands together for a long time, spoke to Zusho-no-suke. Why did Tameuji know that? Zusho-no-suke looked suspicious, and Tameuji smiled slightly.
"I, too, have eyes and ears."
What did he mean by eyes and ears in this case? He was curious, but he decided not to pursue it further.
"My wife was kindly granted words by the Princess. As it was a conversation between women, I, as a man, have no idea what they were talking about."
He felt that at that time, his wife had been entrusted with something important by the princess. But now that the princess was dead, it was futile to try to find out.
I see, Tameuji said, looking somewhat relieved.
"The princess was genuinely happy to hear that you two were expecting a child. If I can get you back to Wada safely, perhaps that will serve as a memorial service for the Princess."
At those words, Zusho-no-suke felt his chest grow warm.
"I am unworthy of such words..."
Because the way he spoke was so similar to Princess Michiyo, he could find no further words to add.
Behind him, he could feel the other retainers growing anxious. He could not keep everyone waiting any longer.
"My Lord. Shall we be going?"
Zusho-no-suke urged Tameuji to depart. Tameuji cast a lingering glance at the bridge, then mounted his horse again and urged his steed toward Wada.

After delivering Tameuji to Mine-ga-jo Castle and entrusting the remaining matters to Suda Sado-no-kami, who had been guarding the castle in his absence, Zusho-no-suke headed straight home.
He had only been away from home for four days, but it felt as if he had left an age ago. The men of the Yabe clan had all been driven to the battle with Sukagawa, and Riku must have been very anxious. Despite the late hour, there was still a light on in the house.
Even though it was the New Year, Riku had not returned to Kibune and had waited for her husband's return alone. She must have been anxious, but he also felt she had become much stronger.
To avoid startling his wife and the child in her womb, he knocked on the gate to signal his arrival. There was a sound of someone hurriedly getting up from inside, the sliding door was opened, and Riku, with her eyes wide open, came running over.
"Don't run. What if you fall?"
Zusho-no-suke pulled Riku's head toward him and stroked it. Her greatly swollen belly looked as if it might burst at any moment, as if the child were about to be born.
"You won, didn't you?"
Finally, Riku showed a smile that was like a tearful laugh.
"My uncle, my father-in-law, and Kii-no-kami. Your kin are all safe."
At Zusho-no-suke's words, tears spilled from Riku's eyes.
"Next is your battle, Riku."
When he said that, Riku nodded firmly.
"Since you have returned safely, Zusho-no-suke-sama, I, too, will overcome this woman's battle."
Outside, the first Sirius of the New Year twinkled as if watching over the two of them—.

©k.maru027.2023

>Continues to "Reconciliation (1)""

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