Ruminations of A Friend

“Yamada Shinjuu Narisada,” the old craftsman sighed, “I have known who you are since before the first time you snuck into the back of my shop.” Yamada was frozen in his spot, but he felt his muscles loosen. He turned to the armor hanging on the wall behind him to hide it. “The nineteenth son of Yamada no Shingorō Nobutada of the Yamada Clan.” Gently, the old craftsman put the katana on the rack.

“My name, young Yamada, is Takayama no Kinjirō Hideyoshi. I am the second son of Takayama no Shintarō Mototoshi—though, I may have been the second son, but I never came second.” Hideyoshi sighed. “Your father,” Hideyoshi began, “has a tendency to ignore that which reminds him of his whole self, flaws and all. It is a serious weakness of his he refuses to address, and those who know it have begged him to see the truth of the matter to no avail.”

Hideyoshi looked at the nineteenth son of his childhood friend and felt his chest tighten. “Yamada, the fact of the matter is that you have your father’s best traits and a couple of his worst. It is not your fault that Nobutada cannot face his own self reflected at him without seeing his greatest weakness.” The old craftsman sighed. “Yamada Shinjuu Narisada, you are not the unwanted son. You are your father but greater, a truth that strikes at your father’s ego very harshly. Due to Nobutada’s weakness, he has refrained from interacting with you, instead instructing your eldest brother to teach you in his stead; to be blunt, your father is being a coward.”

“This armor is for you, Yamada Shinjuu Narisada. You have been wearing your brother’s old armor for far too long.” The youngest Yamada looked both young and old at the craftsman’s statements.

Watching as the young samurai bowed respectfully, taking the armor and his leave, Hideyoshi allowed his face to fall into a grimace. The armor, he felt, was not nearly enough to make a difference. It had been constructed with much care, of course. The Takayama family had been known for making high quality armor for over eight hundred years, and Takayama no Kinjirō Hideyoshi was not one to end his family’s honorable legacy. Hideyoshi sighed deeply. He had failed his friend, and his friend’s son. Hideyoshi had been the young Yamada’s genpuku sponsor for his coming-of-age ceremony, and it had not missed anyone’s attention that Yamada Shingorō Nobutada had been mysteriously absent. It was incredibly painful for Hideyoshi to see his friend display such unreasonable and dishonorable family discord for the world to see, especially in such turbulent times. The armor could not make up for the shame the young Yamada’s father had brought.

Hideyoshi reflected on the armor. It most likely would not stop a bullet like Hideyoshi had first aimed for, but it would help. The young samurai would display the flag of the Yamadas in two days’ time to rally their warriors against the Kō clan, and he would do it wearing armor that fit him well. Hideyoshi hoped that his work would bring the boy fortune.

Hideyoshi hoped to speak with his friend about this first. Nobutada had wrote him, asking to meet and discuss the southern savages and their wares, as well as Tokugawa’s most recent meeting, and so many important things that managed to pale in comparison to Nobutada’s disgraceful and unreasonable treatment of his youngest son.

The sun had finally fallen beneath the lands below, the last of the sunlight appearing on the edge of the land as a deep but visible shade of blue. With the night sky letting go of the sunlight, so too did Hideyoshi let go of his anger of the day, as he made his way to sleep the night away. Hoping, of course, that he would not feel the need to correct his friend’s errors like the boulder tries to correct the river.

***

“I have harsh words for you, my friend,” Hideyoshi said. Yamada Shingorō Nobutada looked up warily, as the pair strolled through the Yamada gardens, sakura petals falling gently around them.

“Dare I ask what they are, Hideyoshi?” His genuine tone put a bitter taste in Hideyoshi’s mouth.

“There are three. Yamada Shinjuu Narisada.” The atmosphere turned tense.

“That boy,” Nobutada began, grinding his teeth, “does not have a pinch of—”

“Do not lecture me about imagined and unbased falsehoods once again. I am not asking you to see reason anymore, for I have given up. You see nothing of your errors, Nobutada, and it will be your downfall, but I shall not let it be your youngest son’s downfall as well!” Hideyoshi spoke sharply, his words cutting and angry. “When I ask for your reason or evidence against your son, you have nothing. You are blind to yourself! But it does not matter. You will allow your son to lead your men into the final battle between us and the remainder of the Kō clan. Your other sons are unavailable, I understand?”

Yamada Shingorō Nobutada twitched, his mouth slightly hung open in surprise. “I will not let that boy lead the battle. General—”

“Once again old friend, I am not asking you.” Hideyoshi took a deep breath, the scent of Sakura blossoms gracing him. “You will be hearing of this from your other sons’ letters, from our friends Hashimoto and Natayama.”

“You brought—”

“You,” Hideyoshi interrupted, “will also hear from the generals under your command, including the one you wish to lead the battle in thirteen days’ time. Nobutada. It is high time you throw your ego away and let your youngest son, who if I might add, is a worthy member of the Yamada clan according to all your sons, have the respect he so deserves!” “You are bringing shame and discord to your family, and as your friend I cannot allow this. Please, Nobutada.” Hideyoshi fell silent, his kamishimo suddenly feeling rough against his skin.

After a long stretch of poisonous silence in the gardens of the Yamada estate, Yamada Shingorō Nobutada spoke. “Fine.”

There were no more words exchanged for the rest of the walk. The silence was cruel, but the outcome of Hideyoshi’s most uncomfortable talk with Nobutada was warm enough to uplift Hideyoshi despite the heavy silence lingering like noxious vapor. Yamada Shinjuu Narisada would lead their men into battle in thirteen days.

***

Hideyoshi smiled as he watched the estate burst with life. The celebrations in and around the Yamada estate were bustling. Hideyoshi, to his own embarrassment, felt prideful of the whole thing.

Everywhere Hideyoshi went, he could hear Yamada Shinjuu Narisada’s name being spoken with awe and respect. The tale had to have been told more than a hundred times already, and yet it wasn’t close to dying down. Takayama no Kinjirō Hideyoshi felt an embarrassing amount of vindictiveness at the young Yamada’s success, despite his father’s neglect and despite the unexpected support the Kō got, aided by the Kiyooka clan.

Even though the size of the enemy’s army doubled, Yamada Shinjuu Narisada successfully rallied their soldiers with an inspiring speech, consequently winning the battle and ending the Kō, purging them from the mountains that the Yamadas’ protected. Hideyoshi was struck from his thoughts when he noticed the star of it all walking towards him. A smile was on the young man’s face, painfully mirroring the smile of his father. And yet, the way he walked was not nearly as overly confident. In that moment, Hideyoshi was struck by how Yamada no Shinjuu Narisada truly was a better version of his father, a better version of his best friend. Takayama no Kinjirō Hideyoshi felt his heart clench at the bittersweet realization.

Finally, as the newly recognized samurai approached him, Hideyoshi bowed to the young samurai, and the young samurai bowed back.