Oh they knew when Lord Yoshihiro was coming. Heavy shaking footfalls and a booming voice to match Cragspur’s traditional war cries – either some took to a cheer or the rare, fragile citizens made it out of his way. Soldiers knew him and knew better then to get in his way despite orders to not allow any foreign diplomats in without Ujiyasu’s approval first.
Walls were being constructed, Rhyhorns were being fitted for armor, and any space not taken by market and residence was under heavy soldier footfall as they scrambled to get ready.
“ OYE!! SHUT UP, YA DAMN FOSSIL!! Bargin’ into my kingdom like we ain’ preparin’ for war-! Ya ever heard of sendin’ a messenger firs’?? Be proper for once, god damnit!! ”
Came another growling shout from across the court at the foot of his castle. Surly and mean sounding as always, very few knew exactly when Ujiyasu was genuine or not. In Yoshihiro’s case, always. “ I’m atleas’ a thousand years younger then ya are!! ”
『 ❛ Manners and glamour were made for the pansies who cannot understand the true meaning of strength! In times like these, the best message is sent in person! ❜ 』
This was an old feeling the warrior hadn’t felt in so long- kinship.
It brought back nostalgia of older days when the land was much more violent and war-torn than it was now, where battles were fought for the sake of survival, no greater reasoning than that.
There were few kingdoms he felt this way in, but strangely, Cragspur was almost a second home to Yoshihiro.
... it wasn’t going to stay that way for long if things carried on they way they were going. The sight of all this war preparation was a sad reminder that these just weren’t the “good old days” anymore. The giant faced Ujiyasu with a grand smile, despite everything- and he laughed. A hearty laugh that easily overtook the various sounds around them. Because of course, he knew just what the other warlord was getting at.
『 ❛ Still as gravelly and course as ever, old friend! I still am shocked from the day you told me you had found a lover- you, the Rugged Pebble of Cragspur! Hoho! ❜ 』
Was he delaying the conversation just to spend time with Ujiyasu again, or did he only come to the other kingdom for the sake of conversation..
The sound of heavy boots echoing off the ground ring out and alert any who were listening to his presence- but he wanted it to be known. Yoshihiro approached the Hojo castle, unafraid of any sort of resistance that might show up; not in an arrogant manner, but Yoshihiro knew these people.
And now, of all times, when conflict couldn’t be avoided, a struggle with the Shimazu would be the last thing on their minds...
... well, he hoped at least.
And of course, the old veteran announced his presence with a Pugilisian greeting- by forcing the gates open with a mighty cry and storming into the center (something about this feels familiar..)
『 ❛ UJIYASU! COME OUT HERE AND FACE ME, YOU OLD BASTARD! ❜ 』
『 ❛ What’s going on out there, Uncle? Ever since you returned from Aurora, you haven’t been the same- even the people are worried.. ❜ 』
Yoshihiro idly watches the horizon, lost in heavy thought and contemplating the future. Especially with the news of Cragspur- that wasn’t going to be well received at all if talk of it had gotten this bad. He turned to his nephew before patting his head in the same rough fashion he always did, standing up.
『 ❛ Toyohisa, I am leaving to see an old friend of mine. I leave you in charge of the kingdom in my absence, as well as these demands: we must construct walls around our borders in preparation for the future. Prepare all living in the capital to expand their homes downwards into the ground and create shelters in the situation that those outside the capital lose their homes. Please, do not take this as news of the end coming for us- this is all for the worst-case scenario. For when everything goes south and we are left with nothing but conflict- please, Toyohisa, I entrust this with you in the hopes that you are ready to take up the mantle in case I- ❜ 』
『 ❛ Uncle, this is ridiculous! ❜ 』
Toyohisa’s sudden outburst caught the veteran by surprise, stopping Yoshihiro midsentence.
『 ❛ You’re letting your fears get to you, Uncle! We don’t know how everything will go- if there will even be a battle, if things will escalate at all! You’ve let this idea infest your mind and... ❜ 』
Now, in return, the old warrior stopped him with a hand on the shoulder.
『 ❛ Listen to you going off- you remind me of myself when I was younger, brat. You’re right, I am worrying needlessly- but I would rather be proven wrong than caught unprepared when I’m right. Come now, boy, it won’t be long. I will be back, and you have all of my faith. Don’t let me down. ❜ 』
A hearty pat on his shoulder before the warlord turned his back to the castle and Toyohisa, preparing for his journey- for the safety of his people.
It was normal that in such a big city, many would find themselves lost. But Toyohisa was more lost than he ever was before- landing in an entirely different continent had that effect on most, but even now, despite being here for so long, he still found himself struggling. A sigh escapes the weary wanderer and finally, he accepts that it’d be easier to find his way when the sun is up.
Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he prepares to set off for an alleyway to curl up into and sleep, but his focus would be caught as one of the items in his bag was flung out, clattering on the concrete sidewalk- a memento, from his uncle!
Quickly, he scrambles after it, abandoning his bag behind him to charge on ahead blindly, without looking- and he’d pay the price for it immediately.
WHAM!
Just as he deserved, his headlong rush forward led to him running straight into someone- that poor stranger, they were going to be leveled by the incredibly-strong Shimazu! Toyohisa stumbles back some afterwards, shaken more by the suddenness of it and less by the impact, before realizing he slammed into another person- how does one say sorry? There was a way to say it, wasn’t there!?
ULTIMATELY, there is no confirmed explanation for it.
The truth is that no one knows how in the world he wound up on the mainland. The accepted theory is that he stumbled through a wormhole and wound up somewhere he shouldn’t have- the theories only devolve into insanity from there. Some go as far as claiming the boy is a time-traveler, blessed by Dialga; others say there was nothing magical about it- the fool just got swept away by the ocean and washed ashore in a different place.
Whatever the reason, Shimazu Toyohisa has no found himself lost somewhere in the mainland- and to make matters worse, he doesn’t understand any of the language. Surrounded by strangers, struggling to comprehend everything going on around him, let alone where he is, the young, hard-headed warrior sticks to his guns- and he’s made quite a name for himself because of it.
Talk of a foreigner picking fights with lowly street thugs and doing good deeds for individuals just going through their daily commute has slowly begun to spread, but for now it’s only a rumor- the rumor also has it that when a night is calm enough, he can be seen trying to read a book or going “home”.
One day, he thinks to himself, looking up at the night sky, I’ll return home.
But as a cry for help rings out from the distance, he leaps into action, charging down the empty sidewalk in the direction of the sound, with a new thought:
It was only a small break away from his kingdom to visit his old friend, waiting for Motonari inside the castle’s garden, idly walking and looking around- how long had it been since he last visited? Too long, of course- was there anything that changed? Did this kingdom ever change (He doubts about that- it’s such a solid and well-situated place that any sort of drastic change is too farfetched)?
However, the old warrior’s eyes catch the figure of a familiar warlord- Masamune? Here in Greenleaf? What was he doing in a place like this- shouldn’t he be ruling Avia?
Curiosity grabbed the Warlord’s interest and Yoshihiro makes way from the place he said he’d meet his friend to find the answer.
『 ❛ Ho, Masamune! You’re awfully far from your home, boy! I never knew the Avian warlord was interested in humble places such at this! It is a pleasure! ❜ 』
『 ❛ Jus’ gotta carry this last box over ta Motonari’s tent and then I’ll be free of chores.. ❜ 』
Careful now, Masanori- even if it’s just one box, it was long and awkward, and being carried vertically like a tower. Not to mention the fragile glass pieces on the top of it- Nori you fool, you picked it up to fast. He stumbled backwards, struggling to balance the box right, the glassware on the top rumbling and teetering-
And everything comes crashing down. Nori falls over, the box landing on it’s top while the glass pieces were somewhere next to it. To his surprise though, nothing seemed broken.
『 ❛ ... phew- ❜ 』
Nope, he spoke to soon- the box fell over and crushed the glass right in front of him. There was a moment of silence before he blew up, stomping his foot and shouting all sorts of profanities, before finally outright kicking the box- which he then realize was a mistake because damn did that hurt.
And now he’s sitting on the box, with his chin in his hand, beaten.
Easily moved by emotions, Masanori is known to cry his eyes out or throw a tantrum at the drop of a hat. Compared to his friends, Masanori is the immature scattered-brain and the comic relief of the trio. Masanori is the loudest of the trio, easily voicing his every honest thought to everything addressed to him. In his mind, Masanori is awesome and popular, beaming with pride of his self-image. He is especially proud for being "stupidly strong". He can't be bothered to sweat over complicated matters and would rather settle all disagreements through brute, unyielding strength. Whoever wins a fight, he believes, has the right to get their way. In spite of his confidence with his masculinity, Masanori craves for a girlfriend in the spin-off titles and constantly pesters the other men in the game for tips to attract the ladies.
Though not one for etiquette or subtlety, Masanori's loyalty to Hideyoshi is just as strong as Mitsunari or Kiyomasa. He fondly calls Hideyoshi "Old Man" and proudly boasts any praise his lord gives him. Masanori extends the same respect to Nene, although he becomes sheepishly timid in front of her, afraid to incur one of her lectures. Both Hideyoshi and Nene believe his light-hearted nature can dispel Mitsunari and Kiyomasa from fighting all of the time.
He treats Kiyomasa with fraternal respect yet regularly seems to be annoyed with Mitsunari, referring to him as "big-headed" for his helmet and for his arrogance. Masanori openly berates Mitsunari, but he will stop to a careening halt if Nene happens to overhear him. Since he isn't as concerned about status as his other "brothers", their flat reactions to his oafish antics is sometimes the only thing Mitsunari and Kiyomasa can agree upon. They bicker and fight all the time, but Masanori doesn't hold a heavy grudge against either one of them. Compared to the other two, Masanori seems trapped in the happier times of their childhood. He is the one who frequently mentions or mocks his friends for their embarrassing moments as children. The Japanese script of the fourth title goes a step further by having Masanori call Mitsunari by his childhood name in his excitement.
『 ❛ Attaboy, Toyohisa! Keep your hold on her horns or she’ll gore you! ❜ 』
Yoshihiro called out over the fence while his nephew tussled with one of his bonds, an old Tauros who had seen to him since he was young. Now, she was shoving him about all over and teaching the brawler all about real strength. But with his hands on her horns, it seemed he finally locked her in place- albeit it wasn’t an easy feat at all.
Though, what he was going to do now, he couldn’t figure out. And that was clear to his uncle.
『 ❛ C’mon brat! Use your head! ❜ 』
His head! That’s right! Toyohisa reeled back before smashing his forehead with the bull’s, causing both to stop suddenly at the impact- of course, he suffered far worse than she did (but it was obvious that the Tauros was definitely feeling it now). One step backwards, then another before the brawler fell over in his daze, Yoshihiro’s hand on his face in disbelief.
NAME: Shimazu Toyohisa
AGE: 19-21 (depending on verse)
HT: 6′0″-6′4″ (depending on verse)
PERSONALITY:
Impetuous Toyohisa is a living wrecking ball of trouble. Once he starts fighting, he rarely quits nor does he ever admit defeat. Childish and idealistic, he is incredibly proud of his family; in his eyes, the Shimazu are the strongest heroes in the world. He believes he must work hard to live up to his elders' legacy as a true warrior of his clan. At first, Toyohisa rushes to achieve greatness. When he is taught otherwise, he becomes strictly obedient to commands. Toyohisa may pout if his weaknesses are exposed to him, yet his earnest enthusiasm never fails to shine in his actions. Simple words or gestures of gratitude are all he needs to keep him in high spirits.
Although he makes several mistakes in his recklessness, he admires Yoshihiro and would gladly lay down his life to save his "Dear Uncle". His life brightens with his uncle's praise and wisdom, and his visage instantly pales when he is scolded. Due to his uncle's patronizing, Toyohisa innocuously prides his helmet and seeks to defend it like a true champion. The Kyushu warriors admire his tenacity yet playfully tease him for his inexperience. Yoshihiro affectionately calls him "Brat" or "Son" and the Tachibana refer to him as "Pup". Toyohisa takes offense to the last name because he is a cat lover like the rest of his family. Toyohisa considers Naomasa a kindred spirit who shares many parallels with him. He either ignores or fails to comprehend Naomasa's annoyance in his attempts to know him better, persistent to gain recognition as a friendly rival.
"So...I'm assuming you know how to throw a punch?"
Yoshihiro looked for a moment at the boy, as if his words didn’t register for him- ‘you know how to throw a punch’…
‘You know how to throw a punch’…
‘You know how to throw a punch’…
First came the slight shaking of his body from snickering, which then became quaking with laughter, until finally the giant warrior devolved into booming laughter, holding his stomach and throwing his head back- why was it so funny to him? It was just an evaluation?
But to him.. it was the first time anyone had ever asked him that.
『 ❛ Can I throw a punch? Can I throw a punch!? ❜ 』
He bent over some to be face to face with the younger, a wide smile on his face.
『 ❛ Boy, tales say my punches shatter mountains, and my voice breaks stone! My muscles are bigger than Yaksha, and steel is in my bones! But I say, I throw the meanest punch in all of Ransei. I am no demigod, boy, but I am strong, and I fear none! ❜ 』
PUGILIS’ landscape is primarily large, open plains with very little trees- many of the pokemon there are adapted to the extremely windy and somewhat hot environment, as well as the Pugilisians themselves.
Many homes in Pugilis are made up of large, heavy bricks or even dug into the ground like burrows- tornadoes are a prevalent threat (although that never stopped the hyped-up, wily pugilist from charging head first at one), and to counter them, homes are built tough, sturdy and heavy. Once a home is built, it doesn’t move and it doesn’t get destroyed- the material they’re comprised of is too hard for common tools to make decent work of.
Many digging pokemon are also common in Pugilis- in fact, one is more likely to find a normal- or ground-type pokemon in the kingdom than they are to find a fighting-type.
Pugilisian warriors, at a younger age, will be paired with pokemon often to be their training partners. Even if the warrior cannot link with that pokemon, a strong bond is forged between the two, making something called a pseudo-link (a non-existent link between man and pokemon without the use of actual links or pokeballs). Although that pokemon could possibly be linked with or caught, their cooperation is not guaranteed because of their bond with their partner.
Pugilis, however, isn’t completely reliant on combat and war for it’s wealth- much of it’s system involves construction and manual labor, as well as being the number one source for meat in Ransei, since much of Pugilis’ land is for farms and cattle.
Many Pugilisians are actually born larger than others in Ransei- this is a strange evolutionary event due to the severely windy environment of their home. Being larger (about an extra foot taller than the continent average) means greater weight and a better defense against the wind to prevent being blown around. On top of this, pugilists wear weighted clothes as both training and ease of comfort, and their footwear often have cleats to keep strong grips.
Flying kites is a favorite passtime in Pugilis- so much so that it’s become a part of their culture, even having its own festival. Because of the unpredictable weather, it’s often postponed or called off, but there are certain months where the wind is commonly strong enough to the point that many Pugilisians keep calenders marked with the dates of windiest days. The festival is also their time of worshipping the Sun, which they believe is the source of all life and power in the world.
Many pugilists wake early in the morning to watch the sunrise and do their morning rituals before starting the day, including meditation, stretches or simply just relaxing before the long day of work ahead.
Most importantly, no matter the status of the individual, there is no Pugilisian who would ever turn a blind eye on one of their own in need of help, regardless of that help being physical, emotional or other. Pugilists are a very close people, bonded by their culture and beliefs and united together. Whether they be warlord or begger, they are all equal in their own eyes.
Her soldiers have since learned that whenever Yoshihiro visits, they should just stand out of the way lest they get a door broken in on them. Even far on the other side of the castle in her room, Hiroko can hear Yoshihiro’s voice echoing throughout the courtyard. (Between him and Ujiyasu, she wasn’t going to get a moment of peace, was she?)
“Do you want me to–” Katsu begins, but Hiroko quickly dismisses whatever he was going to say with a wave.
“Don’t worry about it. He won’t stop until he gets an answer anyway. You can call it a night…” A beat. “Assuming he stops yelling.”
She throws a thin haori coat on over her nightclothes as she goes to meet Yoshihiro in the main hall. Just what she needed–someone else to be upset with her for all of this. Ujiyasu had been bad enough, but there was something all the more upsetting about the thought of Yoshihiro being mad as well. About it being an ally.
“You really don’t have to shout. People live here, you know,” she says, reaching where Yoshihiro is. “And if you’re going to guilt-trip me, you can leave. I’m not in the mood.”
He heard footsteps before seeing her- how late was it? How long had he been riding from Pugilis to here? His perception of time had been lost since his wife fell ill- concern left him distraught and unable to stay focused, and the toll it took was apparent.
When she spoke up, there was a moment where he foolishly hoped to hear the words he wanted to hear- that it wasn’t true, that Toyohisa was just an idiot (he had his moments), that the only real concern he had to focus on was Takahisa.
Of course, it didn’t come true.
『 ❛ I- Hiroko.. ❜ 』
A deep breath, to level himself out and calm his mind.
『 ❛ ... I am not here to do such a thing- you of all people know me too well. I am not here with the intent of trying to change your mind or.. venting my frustrations, but- ❜ 』
『 ❛ Why? Why would you give up such an important role? When you came to my kingdom all those years ago, you came to me with genuine determination and the desire for something greater than power. We were going to change Ransei for the better.. ❜ 』
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