Chapter 1 – Keiji's Might Bodies an endless sea of bodies. What had come to pass with in these few moments? Blood stained the soil, comrades littered the ground, how did this happen? Keiji stuck his pike into the ground, eyes scanning the scene about him, trying to take this all in. Arrows. Everywhere. There had been a massive ambush that was right. That had been the fate of the soldiers before him, and an attempt to block the arrows had caused him to fall from the saddle of Matzukaze. Matzukaze? Violently, Keiji whipped around to locate his steed. And not a short distance away, there stood Matzukaze perfectly unharmed, chewing on the patch of grass in front of him, as if nothing had happened. "Son of a Bitch…you had me worried." The large man sighed in relief, using his pike much like a walking stick to limp over to the wild horse, tamed for only him.
That's when the thought of his lord came to mind. Where was Lord Nobunaga? In fact, where was the rest of the Oda army? Keiji was certain the rest of the army was somewhere near by. Or, if they had been completely obliterated, reinforcements would be somewhere close, wouldn't they? Damn! The feeling of insecurity crept over the bulky man as his gaze shifted to the pile of corpses that covered the ground.
His hands went to grab the reigns of Matzukaze, until the sound of a gun being loaded was heard behind him. "I hate to do this to you Keiji but I can't allow you to leave."
That voice, ha! Figures he'd be around here. With Nobunaga on the field and all.
"And what are you going to do to stop me? Pull that little trigger? Magoichi, you don't have th-" The sound of a gun firing echoed in the air. The mighty Keiji Maeda grasped at his right shoulder, his head turning to look over his shoulder. "You son of a bitch.." And, in the normal Keiji fashion, he laughed. In his attempt to keep from showing any pain or suffering.
"Magoichi, that is quite enough." Another voice came. This one surprised him however. The commander of the rebel army, a man he once called an ally and fought alongside with, was out on the field.
"Mitsuhide…" Keiji took in a deep breath before turning to face the generals. However, there was one more that he had not expected to be there. At the side of the elegant general, was the small kid sister of Nobunaga. So this was who had made up the rebel army? Mitsuhide approached Keiji, motioning to Magoichi to back off. One of the general's hands was already placed on the hilt of his sword as if worried Keiji might retaliate at any second. Oichi stayed in place head slightly cocked to the side as if pondering what Mitsuhide had in store for the blonde haired beast.
"Keiji…" Mitsuhide started, a calm yet cold look on his face, "You serve our enemy Nobunaga. If you wish to keep your life then you shall ally yourself with our forces, and leave the Demon's army."
Staring at him for a moment with a baffled look on his face, Keiji's eyes looked away from him quickly, "You're asking me to give up my honor by betraying Lord Nobunaga or find death?" After a quick glance he saw Mitsuhide nod his head, then let out a frustrated sigh. "I'm not going to be dishonorable and betray Oda."
"It is dishonorable serving him, Keiji," Magoichi snapped quickly. Mitsuhide shot a little glare at Magoichi,
"Though I am not one to judge honor, Magoichi holds truth in what he says. Lord Nobunaga is a demon. Greed and power have swallowed the man I once served. Perhaps I should let Oichi speak on this matter. She has faced the full wrath of his change."
The young girl looked to Mitsuhide, unsure for a moment, then stepped forward. A hand rising to push some strands of short brunette from her face. "Lord Keiji.."
"You're his own sister and you betrayed hi-"
"You don't understand!" She snapped, " My brother isn't who he once was! He married me to a man for peace. Then tried to get him to surrender over his lands. Being his faithful wife, I stood by my husband's side to fight..." Her voice seemed to get softer and more choked as she continued through the story of how Nobunaga killed her husband Nagamasa, and how he left Noh to decide her fate. Nouhime however had gone undeceived, so before she made a choice Mitsuhide had stepped in to protect Oichi from what could have been death. This soon led to Oichi in crying and Mitsuhide trying desperately to calm her.
"Nobunaga was willing to kill his own sister, and innocent people just for power. Does that not scream dishonor Keiji!" Again Magoichi had to through in his unwanted opinion on the situation. Keiji's eyes rolled a bit as Magoichi opened his big mouth again, it was becoming harder to resist the temptation of slapping him upside the head. He did not understand the meaning of honor.
"I'm sorry, it's a tragic story and all. But I just can't do what you're asking of me." Keiji finally replied to the general.
Mitsuhide's eyes moved from Oichi who was sobbing on his shoulder by now, and then to Keiji who was sitting messing with the bullet wound. "Very well then. Sasuke!"
It appeared out of no where - a ninja who leapt gracefully and landed behind the general. "Yes?"
"You and your men escort Lord Keiji to the prison…"
The ninja nodded his head. Shortly after three other ninjas, dressed identical to the one called Sasuke, joined him. All four of them stood and moved over to Keiji, binding his hands incase of escape. Three of them escorted Keiji back to the main camp as the other one recklessly attempted to ride Matzukaze. However that proved a bad idea on his part. As he tried to get on, the wild horse of Keiji's bucked wildly and flung the poor ninja straight into one of the trees nearby. Sasuke had to return to help him out, and it took all four the ninjas to get Matzukaze back to the camp.