This is my first fanfiction in a long time. In your reviews, please tell me how I can improve my writting. Thank you.
Italics are Mitsunari's thoughts
Samurai warriors is a game I do own, but only my copy of the game. The game itself does NOT belong to me.
However, Enmu does.
It started off as a miserable morning to say the least. It had rained the night before so the grounds were very muddy. Mist hung around the camp keeping the air wet with the threat of more rain apparent with the dark clouds that loomed overhead. If the sun had risen already, it would hardly be noticed.
It was, supposedly considering that the sun's usual glorious rays were not the ones at fault for waking the majority of the camp, morning and soldiers were already performing their daily routines; patrolling, training and similar activities of the like. Their overseers would command them and it looked to be a peaceful day ahead for the army that set their camp here.
Although it should have been a surprise, it certainly wasn't to most who knew of him, that the commander of the whole camp, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was still sleeping. It was a routine for him to sleep in when there were no battles planned and most of the camp agreed that he deserved the rest. It's common knowledge though, that he sleeps with a hand on his trusted staff should anything happen without his knowledge. He most likely would have kept sleeping all through lunch time if his trusted right hand man, Ishida Mitsunari would not wake him up. It was this duty that Mitsunari was trudging through the mud to accomplish.
"Ah! She strikes again!" "Crap.. Thanks to you, I lost 20yen!" "That's not a lot so quit complaining!" "So who's going to face this demon woman now?" "Demon woman? That's not very nice.."
Mitsunari stopped in mid-trudge hearing the bickering of some of the soldiers. Demon woman? Gambling? What are these fools up to? He thought as he changed course and headed in the direction of a small huddle of soldiers. "You there! What are you fools doing? Shouldn't you be training?"
"Shit! It's Lord Ishida.." "Damnit we're dead.." The soldiers parted from their huddle and stood stiffly saluting him in a line. They held their spears and various other weapons proudly at their sides. "Go tend to your duties." Mitsunari said with the strictness of a superior. His arrogance showed in his face as he watched the soldiers run to their duties.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of many things being dropped. He looked behind him and saw a single soldier crouched on a large plank of wood. He was gathering small, round, white stones that had scattered on a wooden board with a painted grid on it. It appeared that this is what the soldiers were gathered around. "Hurry it up and tend to your duties soldier!" He said annoyed.
"My apologies my lord." The solder said quickly gathering up the scattered stones. This voice... A woman? She stood up with the board under one arm along with two wooden cups that each held a decent amount of small round stones. One cup held white stones while the other cup held black stones. Mitsunari understood what the soldiers were doing.
"What is your name and rank soldier?" He inquired.
"My name..." The girl thought for a bit before answering. "My name is Enmu sir, and I am currently a reserve officer under Lord Hideyoshi's command." She spoke in a certain dreamy way that made Mitsunari think that she just woke up. Unfortunately for her, he too had woken up not too long ago. "Games like this do not have a place on a battlefield. You should be training than having to play such a childish game."
"It is part of my training sir."
"What makes you think that?"
"It is through this game that I have learned strategy and mathematics, despite not being of noble birth sir." Mitsunari was slightly impressed, but not enough to let it show through his arrogance.
"It would be of more use to you if you trained your strength rather than your brain at this point in the war. Considering that you are a woman, you may be left behind in terms of skills than the men who are constantly training. I suggest that you use that board for firewood and go and train with the rest of the soldiers."
"Surely you of all people would know, my lord that strength alone cannot win a war. When this war is over, I would also like to be employed in a decent job that doesn't include fighting, and for that, I need to be educated. As for the strength of an able warrior, I assure you that I have enough of that already." Although she was probably right, Mitsunari wanted to end the conversation as fast as possible so that he could tend to his other duty.
"Go train with the rest of the soldiers. This is an order."
"My apologies my lord, but I will not go against my principles."
"Do you realise that I can punish you for not obeying a direct order?"
"Yes my Lord." This woman was really getting on his nerves. "My lord, may I request that you engage in a match with me?"
"What? Me, play a childish game?"
"Surely, Lord Ishida could handle a game of strategy, which is said to be your forte, against a commoner girl such as I?" She was trying to lure him into a foolish game with a seemingly innocent taunt to get out of punishment.
"Lighten up Mitsunari!" Hideyoshi Toyotomi appeared from behind Mitsunari and patted his back. "What's a little game of Go gonna do to you?" It seems that Lord Hideyoshi has woken up of his own accord...
"If you insist my Lord." Mitsunari inwardly sighed settled on the other side of the large plank of wood as Enmu set up the playing board. It wasn't the traditional block of wood that would normally be played on, it was thin for travelling purposes and it appeared to be worn out.
"Which side would you like to be on?" She asked.
"It doesn't matter." Mitsunari replied.
"Have you played Go before my Lord?"
"Yes. You do not have to explain the rules. I'm sure our audience knows them as well." A small huddle had already appeared with Hideyoshi included.
"Shall we have a small wager?" Mitsunari inquired. Enmu agreed. "Right, than if I win, I will punish you for not obeying a command from a superior. If I lose, I will not question your principles." Mitsunari smirked, confident in his ability to win.
"This is going to be easy for Lord Mitsunari!" "Are you sure? She's known as the Go demon who won a hundred matches!" "My money's still on Lord Ishida." "Well, I'm betting on the woman!"
"Hoho.. It seems that this is going to be a pretty epic match up." Said Hideyoshi as the two players began. He had overheard the conversations of the soldiers around him. He turned to the closest soldier and ordered him to send for Masanori Fukushima. Surely, this was a battle he would not want to miss.
Some minutes later, the Go match was still occurring. Noticing that it appeared to be a dull match, most of the soldiers went about returning to their duties and Masanori had not even arrived to watch stating that it was 'a waste of time'. The only one left watching was Hideyoshi. The two players looked completely concentrated and the air was tense. It was then that Hideyoshi decided to strike up a conversation.
"Soo... Enmu was it?"
"Yes my Lord." She replied.
"You need not speak so formally Enmu. Today seems to be a slow day." Hideyoshi said with a smile.
She paused in mind stone placement to stare at Hideyoshi. Mitsunari looked up annoyed. "Are you going to move or not?" He said impatiently.
"Y-Yes my lord.."
"Didn't Lord Hideyoshi say that there was no need for formalities?"
"Sorry...Lord Mitsunari.. Lord Hideyoshi.." She still spoke with a little formality, but it was a start.
"Glad you got that straight.. Now make your move." He said irritably. She finally placed the stone down and they continued the game. However, Hideyoshi wanted more conversation.
"So, Enmu. You are under my service correct?"
"Yes. It is understandable if you don't remember me. I transferred into Lord Nobunaga's army after Lady Oichi married Lord Nagamasa. My family was in the service of the Azai family since we lived in Omi."
"You lived in Omi?" Hideyoshi asked.
"Born and raised." She said with pride, placing another stone on the board.
"Hey Mitsunari, isn't that where you were born?" Hideyoshi asked with a grin.
"Yes Lord Hideyoshi." He answered, also placing a stone on the board.
"Than it's settled! Enmu, since you seem to be a capable person, I'll leave you in Mitsunari's hands! He'll be your commander from now on!"
It was silent for a few seconds when Hideyoshi noticed why is was silent. The two players hadn't placed any stones down and were staring at the Monkey king.
"Lord Hideyoshi, you wish to place this infuriating woman in my hands?" It was true that Enmu did annoy him and he didn't need that kind of annoyance in this time of war.
"Why not? You two seem to be well placed if put together." He said with a carefree tone.
Enmu held a blank stare as she answered. "Yes, Lord Hideyoshi."
"Oooh! This is such a good child!" Nene appeared from behind Hideyoshi and ruffled Enmu's hair. Mitsunari sighed. Another infuriating one has appeared.. "Did I hear you correctly my dear? This girl's going to under Mitsunari?"
Hideyoshi nodded, a bit surprised at the appearance of his wife.
Nene pouted. "Hopefully Mitsunari will play nice than!"
"I do not 'play' lady Nene." Mitsunari said.
"Oh? Than what are you doing right now? Aren't you PLAYING Go?"
Mitsunari was silent. "Lady Nene, if it is alright with you, may we continue?" Enmu inquired. Her hair was quickly fixed into a high ponytail.
"Stop being so formal! You are all my children!" Nene said bubbly. "Call me just 'Nene' or 'Mama' and call everyone else by their name! You're all my children so there's no need to be formal!"
"..Y-Yes.. Nene.."
"What a good child! Now go finish your game! As for you my darling.." Nene grabbed Hideyoshi's arm and surprising began to drag him toward his tent with unusual ease. "We need to talk about Cha-cha.." Nene had an evil look to her eye as she dragged Hideyoshi away, a look of dread plastered on his face. Mitsunari and Enmu sweat dropped.
"Shall we continue Lord Mitsunari?"
"Didn't you hear what Lady Nene said?" Mitsunari said placing down a stone.
"Yes my lord." She placed down a stone as well.
"Than, you know. As per her orders, you call me by name informally. There is no need to mention my rank."
"B-but.."
"Are you going to disobey the Lady?"
"No.. Mitsunari."
"That's better." Mitsunari placed another stone and smirked. "I win." Enmu stared. Although it was by a small point margin, he did indeed win.
"I shouldn't have expected so much. Now time for your punishment. I've been waiting for this."
"First, I request something of you.. Mitsunari." She still found it difficult to say his name informally. She quickly cleared the board and turned it over. On the other side of the board were two columns. One for 'Wins' and one for 'Losses'. The 'Wins' column had an abundant number of names written underneath while the 'Losses' side had around five. What caught Mitsunari's attention was the first name of the 'Losses' side.
"If you don't mind.. Mitsunari. Could you please sign here?" She offered a calligraphy brush already damp with ink to him. "I'm recording how well I'm doing all through the years. The 'losses' column indicates who I have lost to, so please sign there." He quickly signed his name and stood up.
"And now for your punishment, as promised." She stood next to him and saluted knowing fully well the terms of the match.
"Your punishment is to play Go with me every time I ask. Since I am now your commanding officer, this will be often, so expect a challenge ahead of you."
Enmu held a look of surprise.
"I suppose that this game of yours isn't completely useless. I admit that I have exercised my brain so I prefer to keep in well trained. You aren't a completely useless player yourself. You are now excused seeing as it is lunchtime." He coolly walked away leaving Enmu completely surprised.
It was sometime later that Mitsunari was in his tent. Contemplating something in his head. The first name written at the back of Enmu's Go board was 'Sakichi'. It was a name he hadn't seen or heard in a long time. It was most likely pure coincidence but.. This might prove to be interesting...
--Chapter 1 end --
Chapter 2 Tiny preview: Head ornaments, a board and some stones
References:
- 'Enmu' Means haze, mist or fog
- 'Omi' is a province in Japan where Nagamasa and Mitsunari were born (according to samurai warriors)
- 'Chacha' is one of Hideyoshi's consorts.. I think. Correct me If I'm wrong.
- Historically, 'Sakichi' was Mitsunari's childhood name.