Author's Notes: This is a crossover between Onimusha Tactics and Soul Calibur. I decided to do this because I figured the two stories could really go together. The events in Onimusha take place about ten years before the events in Soul Calibur, and it takes place in the real world, feudal era Japan. It will describe the events following the massacre of Yoshimitsu's clan and his journey for revenge against infamous warlord, Nobunaga Oda, and my version of Yoshimitsu's first encounter with Soul Edge. This story will take place around 1582.
!Onimusha Tactics, Soul Calibur, and all other related items are properties of their rightful owners!
Prologue
…It was that day I realized that we were all fools…
Sounds of firing cannons and the smell of burning wood only added to the chaos that ensued as the clan of ninjas fought against the Lord's army.
The Manji clan. A clan of very skilled and talented ninjas. They represented themselves as demons by wearing ceramic masks designed to look like demons of folklore.
Nobunaga's army. The loyal followers of Lord Nobunaga Oda. They followed him for they believed that he would finally unite Japan as one. On his orders, they fearlessly attacked the legendary Manji clan, hoping to destroy those that Nobunaga said would only try to keep the country separated.
…We were so near victory, until they brought in the gatlings. Little did the world know of this invention. History says it was invented in 1861, long, long, long after the day my clan was massacred. Not true. I have long outlived my natural life. And when the people praised the "official" invention of the gun, I nearly spit. Those who experienced the killing power of the gatling were now all dead, and they had kept quiet during their lives. The everyday citizens had no clue that the guns nearly threw their entire country into a state of Hell centuries ago…
One by one, the Manji ninjas were mowed down by the guns. Not familiar with the new weapons, they foolishly tried to block the bullets with their swords, only to have sparks fly as a single bullet ricocheted off the blade while the rest of the bullets entered their bodies.
Rivers of blood flowed across the ground at the end of the battle. Though Nobunaga's army was basically decimated, those few who wielded the gatlings and the very few who took shelter beside them lived. The Manji clan, however, was no more.
"Lord Nobunaga told us to defeat them at any cost…Isn't this just a bit too much? Kenzo, old friend, do you regret this as I do?" A soldier stared disbelieved at the carnage that lay before him.
His friend shook his head, "No, this was for our country. These ninjas were rebels. They would have interfered against anyone who hopes to change the way this country works, if only to get on their nerves. Nobunaga did not want to deal with them. We did our Lord a great service."
"But how can you think that? Look at all of our men we just lost!" He motioned to the scores of lifeless bodies that littered the once sacred ground of Mt. Fuji. "Did Lord Nobunaga tell you all that, or were these ninjas' reputations that widely spread, because I have heard nothing of them!"
"Enough!" Kenzo unsheathed his katana and in one swift motion sliced the neck of his companion. The soldier fell to the ground. Blood splashed out of the wound and then it just flowed onto the ground like a tiny river.
Kenzo looked at the few soldiers that remained with fierce and dedicated eyes, "Anyone who questions our Lord's judgment will pay! Just like this fool! You that survived will all be honored by thousands upon thousands for your deeds today! Lord Nobunaga will create a new Japan!"
The other soldiers didn't seem to enthusiastic. Most only stared unmoving at nothing in particular, their eyes filled with horror.
"Time to get up! Our Lord has more use for us! We do not have time to mourn or pray! We must do anything for our Lord! We must pay any price!"
----------
Enjoying a large feast inside the walls of his castle, Nobunaga drank a cup of sake unperturbed. "Kenzo…Hm hm…Such dedication…It is true, you all will pay any price…"
----------
The soldiers snapped out of the shock induced daze when they heard hisses coming from the edge of a nearby forest. They stood up to see dozens of spearheads approaching them. Kenzo peered out and found their flag. He smiled, very relieved.
"Ha! Do you see? Our Lord has sent us aid!"
A soldier miserably mumbled, "Too late, that is."
Kenzo turned, "What did you say!" He approached this man with his blade, ready to kill another of his own men. But the soldier only sat hunched over, not afraid or intimidated.
"Go ahead and kill me, Kenzo. I'm tired. I want rest."
"Then you shall get it!" Kenzo raised his sword high and readied to send it down. Before he did, however, another soldier called out.
"Look! In the forest! Those are not the Lord's men!"
From out of the forest came a band of armored lizard-like monsters. They had long, pointed snouts and small, yet plentiful sharp teeth. They did carry spears and one did carry Nobunaga's flag. The leader of the group began to speak in a raspy, sort of high pitched voice, "There they are!" It hissed and counted their numbers, "Hmm…I see, only seventeen left. And there are twelve of us…Lord Nobunaga didn't take time to count, I see. Oh well. Let us eat, yes? Whoever gets the extra five can have them!" His hissing voice paralyzed the soldiers with fear.
The monsters flicked their snake-tongues and quickly lunged in for the kill.
…I watched as the soldiers were slaughtered and eaten. It's ironic how Kenzo, the one who seemed the most loyal to Nobunaga, was eaten first by these beasts that looked to have given there loyalty the Lord himself. As I lay near death, I was happy that these lizards only ate fresh meat. How unfortunate to be eaten alive…like them…
"Ahh…I love fresh meat!"
"Ha ha! Yes!"
"Lord Nobunaga really must really find stronger men. Then we'd have more to eat."
----------
Nobunaga finished off his last dumpling and poured himself another glass of sake. After he finished pouring, he held the small glass up in front of him, "For your years of loyal service, Kenzo." He smirked and drank down the sake.
----------
…I knew our entire country had been played for fools…
