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“...is this attachment so important you are willing to give your life? Even when knowing that it is meaningless as we will be reduced to ashes?”

“Yes–! It’s what makes us humans!”

Amari looked away as she rallied her group, ready to be at the front lines to the alliance. Yet, her heart ached when Mai said such words. As if, someone said something similar to that.

Walking out of the tent they were in, Shin and Mang looked at her. “Will we be taking her to the front?”

“From her silence, it is a yes.”

Amari trotted to the fronts as her and the Moonlit Mirage with the Ashikaga army saw the Alliance army across from them. Between them was a gentle rushing river; the location was Sekighara. On her side, her lullaby kept the army at ease. Instead of the song that her mother would sing constantly, it was something else.

“In your dream, dream, do you see”

“If you look at scary eyes”

Behind her were her gunmen and archers, besides her were those that will fight close up. Turning to where Yoshiteru, Kanebi, and Hisahide will be – they gave a nod to her. Sazio was in the shadow of Amari, ready to defend her. While Rikyu kept Kyoto in check.

“To the lands of dreams”

“Until the time you wake up”

Waiting for the fog of the early morning to clear up so the fighting will begin. The unit in front of hers was the combination of the Date and Uesugi – seemingly to have payback for what she did.

“Amari.”

Stopping in her lullaby, Amari turned to Sazio, “Let’s go.”

The battle between the two sides started. With neither wanting to give up on who is the rightful ruler to truly bring the land into peace. Even with the wormhole’s help in alternating some of the past, they couldn’t do anything massive due to certain people’s influence that prevented them from doing so.

CLANG!!!

“You must be the one that beat the hell out of Ieyasu! Gotta say, that was impressive of you,” Masamune had both of his swords locked on with Amari’s.

“This person is mine to kill, Masamune.”

“Got it! Got it, Kenshin!”

With both Shin and Mang keeping Kenshin at bay to allow Amari to fight Masamune with her full attention.

CLASH

“...impressive. Blocking my afterimages… only Lord Yoshiteru could do that,” Amari saw how Masamune used his blades to block her attacks.

“I guess that means–!”

Something seared his left cheek. Something hot. Masamune touched the blood that was running from that hit, a hint of burnt flesh. Stopping him in his tracks as that moment took over his mind.

Just as the Tiansha Blade was close to decapitating Masamune’s head, Kojuro quickly intervenes with Yori quickly getting Masamune out of danger so he can get out of his transience.

“Yori! Get Lord Masamune out of here!”

“You don’t need to order me! I’m already on it!”

Amari looked at Kojuro from her veil in surprise. She didn’t expect that or foresee that. Seeing Kojuro in anger seems to strike in her interest, almost like there is something in life to fight for.

“Saizo.”

Just by calling his name, he appeared and took Amari’s position against Kojuro.

“Wha– Where are you going!?” Kojuro turned to see Amari dashing to where Masamune and Yori were at. “Shit…! ELLARA! STOP HER!”

“Got it old man!”

Sensing a kick from behind, Amari quickly dodged it. Ellara, coming from nowhere, was ready to have a second rematch.

“Listen here! You are going to pay for what you’ve done! Especially after that!”

“...are all Date’s this obnoxious?”

“I HEARD THAT!”

Morgan and Ryuu saw how terrifying the battle between the Moonlit Mirage against the Uesugi and Date were becoming. 

The Oda were focused on Yoshiteru and his army, with the Ikko-Ikki’s assistance. Ranmaru and Daiju took a moment to see the battle unfolding, a sense of unease filled both of them.

“Ranmaru!” Morgan called out to the pink-haired man, “Go for it!”

“Morgan!” Ryuu quickly kicked an enemy that snuck behind them.

“Thanks!”

“Should I–?” Ranmaru turned to his best friend.

“Go. Everyone would understand, I swear,” Daiju nodded before taking a fallen sword from an ally to replace his broken bow. “Seize this chance, Ran.”

The battle persisted till a piece of the Ashikaga fell, realizing that something went south. Like their plan was leaked somehow.  Thus they retreated except for the Moonlit Mirage, as they sense their time in this realm is up.

“Amari, you are to stay here and delay the alliance from getting further,” Hisahide told her.

Knowing this is a death sentence, Amari nodded.

Even when the blood of her enemies coated and injured Kanetsugu, Ellara, Kojuro, and many others. Amari knew this would be the last time, taking in the moment of the sun going down soon, she stepped forward. Willing to burn herself away.

“You’re outnumbered,” Kenshin declared as several of the other warlords came.

With the surviving Moonlit Mirage, they stood firm.

“Princess! What should we do?”

“...fight. As this winter will be our last, my friends,” Amari declared.

All of them understood what she meant, which they gave everything they could.

BANG

BAM

“Mitsuhide! Masahiro!”

“On it my lord!”

On cue, Amari started to sing that lullaby once more. With her summoning her flames before turning them into something else – arrows.

Ieyasu looked on with fear for the first time in a long time, “W-what-!?”

“That–!” Shingen could only look at the fire arrows before looking at Amari, “What have they done…?”

“Ranmaru! Stop her!” Daiju called out to his friend, in a panic.

Ranmaru could only look on with fear, unsure what to do or if that is really the person he once knew years ago.

The Oda quickly retreated as the arrows came at them the moment Amari pointed at them.

WHISP

“ACK!”

“AGGH!”

“IT BURNS!!!”

Those who were unfortunate felt the arrow go through them only to see it go after another.

“Shin! Shouldn’t we do something!?” Yuna turned to her, in fear.

“...this is it for us,” Shin could only look at Amari, as she became paler, “Listen up! Show the alliance our anger! OUR SORROW AND PAIN!”

The Moonlit Mirage cheered before going to the Oda, with no regards. For them to fall here, with a stream of water, is a befitting place to fall for them. Yuna looked at her gun, before aiming it at the alliance. Each one of them, they are now at terms with their fate.

They were nothing more than the meat shields for their Shogun.

The moment the sun began to set, Amari’s singing continued only to be stopped by a fit of coughs – spilling blood from her mouth. Many of the Moonlit Mirage were slain, fighting and delaying the enviable. 

“COUGH I see…” Amari stares at her gloves stained by her blood, only to stand with her weakened body. Holding her Tianshu blade, “I suppose… I no longer need this veil of mine.”

Ripping it off from her hood, Amari’s face was on display.

Shingen and Kennyo look on with horror, seeing their dark circles and the blood stain near her mouth – they know she doesn’t have much. Daiju froze on the spot, not wanting to believe what he was seeing. Ranmaru, he couldn’t take it. Ignoring the cries of the other warlords he went at her.

CLASH

Amari blocked it. Sparks of their swords colliding flew from it.

“Ama! Please! Come back!”

“...you say as if you KNOW ME!”

“It’s because I do!”

“YOU DON’T!!!”

CLANG

“DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH PAIN I’VE BEEN IN! EVERY SINGLE DAY!”

Amari’s voice grew louder, desperate, pain, guilt, everything. All between the coughs. 

Ranmaru flinched at hearing it, “I… I don’t. But I know! You were never the person to hurt!”

The standing Moonlit Mirage continued, going after the warlords with what little remains of them. “They won’t stop coming!” Hideyoshi tried to dodge them but they kept going.

“Then that’s good!”

“They seem to be chasing after death,” Sasuke gave his conclusion.

“What!? Are they insane!?” Yukimura swipes some of them away before turning to Sasuke in disbelief.

“...this is their stand,” Mitsuhide declared.

“How pitiful and a waste of a pawn.”

The warlords looked at the battle between Amari and Ranmaru while dealing with the remnants. It was only when Ranmaru said something – something that seemed to break Amari from her mind.

“Do you remember…? When I promised to you on the day we first met?”

Amari looked at her sword before seeing her reflection, unable to recognize who she was. “...I- what have I done…?” Amari stares at her reflection once more only to turn to where Shingen, Daiju, Kennyo, and those that remember her younger self.

Ranmaru walked up to her, “I know you didn’t have a say, or nothing, but, you can turn over a new leaf.”

Amari – no, Amaryllis –  looked at Ranmaru extending his hand. Just like he did to her. Begging for her to take it once more, just as the last few of Moonlit Mirage – Shin, Mang, Yuna, Ryo, Lu, Han – fell by the hands of  Kenshin, Mitsuhide, Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, Yukimura, Keiji, and the other warlords.

“Please…”

Staring at it, instead of taking his hand, Amari took a step behind. “I…” only to fall to her knees as she clenches her chest and covers her mouth, coughing up large amounts of blood that stain the river.

“Ama–!”

Ranmaru rushed to help her only to feel the faint presence of a pulse. He turned pale as more blood came forth from Amaryllis’ mouth.

“I- I’m sorry–! COUGH! I… can’t take your hand… Ran” Amaryllis was struggling as her vision continued to blur. All she could feel was the cold water beneath her soaking in her kimono.

Ieyasu quickly rushed up when Ranmaru called out to him, desperately.

Shingen and Kennyo could only stand in shock and fear as the other warlords rushed forward.

“Ama! Amaryllis! Don’t close your eyes! I beg of you! Don’t!” Ranmaru held Amaryllis in his arms, crying.

“S-sorry…” Amaryllis repeated that only to see Nobunaga in front of her with Hideyoshi and Mitsuhide. Chuckling to herself as she stare at Hideyoshi, “...maybe I should’ve… taken your hand if–”

“Silence. Save your strength,” Nobunaga interrupted her.

With a faint smile, Amaryllis could only look at Nobunaga as Ieyasu tried to figure out how to save her. “Easy to say… when you haven’t been cursed with it… just to… save your life,” Amaryllis continued to cough out blood. “If… you wish to save Mai… Saizo probably is getting her to escape… that man… he too is like me–”

“Ama! Focus–” Ranmaru stop in his words as Amaryllis brought her hand – shaking – to carcass his face.

“Ranmaru… thank you for letting me meet you,” Amaryllis let out the tears she was holding in for years out. Only to stare off at the sunset, as if seeing someone in the distance, “...Mother… father… Masao… I suppose you’re here… to take me with you.”

They all saw how she was struggling to keep her eyes open, trying to take in the last moments. With Ranmaru holding her hand tightly, yelling for her to stay awake, Ieyasu tells her to focus on them. Even with their yellings, it didn’t stop her from closing her eyes. With the last words she will ever give were, “I suppose… in the end… I couldn’t change… not a single thing…”

The hand that Ranmaru held on became limp, falling to Amaryllis’ side. Those who once knew her, cried in silence as the last of Li truly fell. With nobody remembering her except for what she was forced to become. Even when her life was no more, a small smile was still present on the now becoming cold body of hers.

The Ashikaga did not care about losing Amari or the Moonlit Mirage. They were expandable, just something to stall the alliance.

Amaryllis was burned to ashes, to be placed alongside with her family. As the bodies of the Moonlit Mirage became nothing more than fertilizer for the ground. Yet something unusual occurred, a bunch of flowers appeared where those who died – remembering the names of the forgotten.

The Tianshu Blade was given to Shingen, as to Kennyo, it fits him due to it being similar to his current sword. Yet, it was only on display, given maintenance when needed.

To the Oda, they did not have much fondness for the girl like they would if she did join them. But they did see how people like Amaryllis and the Moonlit Mirage were no more than victims. Victims that were misguided to the end. 

The Uesugi and the Lone Forces – minus Ikko-Ikki – carried on.

The victor between the Ashikaga and Alliance was not decided in that battle, just the second to the end.

Somewhere in the afterlife…

“Sister!” Masao ran up to his sister.

“What is it?” Amaryllis turned to him after weaving a flower crown.

“Nothing~! I’m just glad to have you back!” Masao gave a giant smile to her, as if waiting for this moment.

Eiji’s appearance looked like he was drained of life for a second time, “How the hell did you train these guys!?”

Amaryllis looked at her friend with a mischievous smile, “Well, I WAS cursed with the power of a kitsune that was draining my life. To answer your question, I made them try to keep up with me.”

“Really?’

“Really, Eiji.”

Amaryllis no longer had her emerald eyes or white hair. Just her raven hair and her normal eyes before everything.

From a distance, the parents of hers and the Moonlight Mirage seem to be sharing memories of their children when they were young, almost fondly. With Han and Lu being embarrassed that they tried to hide themselves. While Yuna and Ryo were dying from laughter alongside Ryo’s younger siblings on how Han and Lu were in the past. Mang was not surprised, but a small smile was still there.

“Sooo~  do got any regrets, Amaryllis?” Eiji asked.

“...one regret. I couldn’t tell Ranmaru how I felt,” Amaryllis gave a sad smile, before placing the flower crown on Masao, “I do hope he can move forward.”

“Ranmaru will! I’m sure of it sister!”