Chapter 2 – Dance of Okuni
"Oh my…"
In front of their very eyes soldiers clashed with one another in the heat of battle. No, this wouldn't do at all. The priestess of the Izumi shrine shook her head in disapproval of the fighting. At her side stood a larger man who looked at her worriedly.
"You think we should get ourselves involved?" He asked watching another soldier fall to the ground dead. Okuni nodded her head with a frown, "Yes, these ruffians need to settle down."
Looking to the sky, she seemed thoughtful for a moment then pointed in direction of a hilltop, "There! Perhaps I can calm them with a dance." Her companion stared at her for a moment then nodded his head, eager with the idea of Okuni performing.
"Sure thing! I'll go clear it for ya!" Quickly, well as quick as he could go, Goemon went to eliminate any officers that currently occupied the flat area. And after a few moments, Okuni followed up after him, wondering quietly to herself; what good could such brutality do?
The priestess felt herself smile as she saw the area cleared for her, and bringing up Gekkai (one of the several weapons she uses) she signaled the dance was beginning.
Soldiers stopped in confusion, but gathered to watch the woman perform, gaping at the beautiful priestess as she gracefully moved. This action had even caught the attention of the young Yukimura Sanada and Kunoichi. Blankly, they stared at the woman who was interrupting their clash with the Uesugi army.
"What are they trying to do?" Kunoichi asked looking up to Yukimura who was mounted proudly atop of a Takaeda Calvary horse. The Sanada boy sighed a bit, pushing some hair from his face before replying to the ninja. "Not a clue."
Slowly the dance came to a stop and the soldiers, who had been gaping, turn again to battle with the enemies about them. Okuni stared at them, bewildered this had not stopped them from fighting, what a pity. Goemon stepped up next to Okuni, trying to figure out a way to help.
"H-hey come on now! This truly is s pointless fighting, you know!" He tried to continue, but was caught off guard by an arrow that shot past his cheek. "Whaa!"
"Oh dear…This is not working at all." Okuni stated holding the umbrella open as if a weapon blocking the arrow from hitting her.
A laugh was heard coming from somewhere in the crowd of people, a woman's laughter. The female ninja sliced through the crowd approaching them with a devious grin worn on her small face. "I thought I ought to applaud your efforts! But you know they're worthless. These boys like fighting each other too much to stop now. Sorry!" And with that Kunoichi leapt into the air, her laughing still heard.
"...What a strange woman…"
Their attempts to stop the violence had failed, so the two stood back watching once more as the battle continued. No army seemed to gain the upper hand at any point in time, a stand still battle, how very dull. Okuni let out a little yawn as she continued to view the bloodshed.
That was until something very strange happened, a very fast horse crossed in front of the two of them. The priestess's eyes lit up suddenly filled with a type of hope. Quickly she looked down the path to the horse had gone down. Hope that she had just caught a glimpse of Matsukaze still rising in her. However, as she took another step she turned her head seeing the horse rush past by her again.
"Master Keiji?" She asked herself curiously looking towards the path.
"Keiji! Where's that punk at?" Goemon was suddenly full alert as Keiji's name was brought up. He looked to Okuni is a sudden worry, no Keiji couldn't be here!
Okuni suddenly closed Gekkai and took off down one of the trails, following after the rider she believed to be Keiji. Curiosity and hope lit up in her eyes as she continued to run, knocking away anyone who stood in her path. However, she was soon halted as Shingen's officer, Katsayori, came into view. Having no time for such ordeals she began to strike at the officers and battle. Goemon however was further back, seeming to loose the momentum he had built rather quickly.
"Doll, you are in the wrong place. This isn't your fight."
Doll? Okuni's eyes narrowed in annoyance. Raising Gekkai she struck out at Katsayori, no one was going to stand in her way to get to master Keiji. Katsayori however blocked the hit and knocked the girl backwards "I'm telling you doll this isn't your place."
Again with the "Doll" comments, the Izumi priestess frowned at such language. Quickly she went to strike again, but Katsayori was blocking. That's when an idea came to her, it was low but he deserved it. Okuni pulled back and swung again, but this time she nailed the general below the belt. Letting him fall to the ground, and roll about in severe pain.
"Oh for shame!"
However a little mockery was in her voice, and with time turning away from him. Katsayori after a few moments began struggling back up onto his feet. Quickly shaking off the humiliating injury he had just been dealt. He raised his sword to lunge at the maiden who harmed him.
Turning just in time, Okuni saw Katsayori get up. However a red horse skidded to a stop and with in an instant Katsayori was retreating. Looking up Okuni who had been so hopeful for Keiji, found someone else instead.
Upon the horse, a little tyrant sat grinning viciously as Katsayori ran, "Yes! Run you weaklings!" Whoever this person was, appeared no older then his early teenage years. A patch covering one eye, and two sticks in his hands that he seemed to use for weapons. "Imbecile…" He added looking in the direction the peon had run in. Then looking down at Okuni he blinked, "Another of Takaeda or Uesugi officers?"
"Dear me no! Just a minx trying to keep the peace." Okuni smiled trying her best to not end up in a fight with the young man.
"Humph…Peace huh? What good does that do? Well the battle will be over quickly, once I eliminate everyone on the field." Okuni tilted her head to the side, did he believe he could defeat everyone?
"If you do not mind my asking, but what is your name?"
"What! Have you not heard of me! I am the great Date Masamune!" The boy shouted as if appalled she hadn't known his name already. The priestess sighed a bit, scratching the back of her head. Honestly she had not a clue who he was or why he was so battle hungry, but he could be the key to ending this fight quick so she could get through Kawanakajima.
"Perhaps Master Goemon and myself can help you clear the area." She spoke sweetly batting her eyes at the boy, it always tended to work on men.
Masamune looked at her for a moment, raising a brow. "If you think I need your help to win this battle then your wrong! Hooowever… I could always use more lackeys."
Lackeys? What a disgusting word. Okuni sighed a bit , and then nodded her head, "Then we shall help you finish off the Takaeda and Uesugi armies." Her eyes suddenly traced to her companion who had now managed to catch up with the girl.
"O-okuni you alright!" He seemed to be at a loss from air, as though he had run through musket fire. "Who's this little punk? Someone I need to take care of?"
"Little! You come up here and say that to my face fat man!" Masamune exploded in rage at Goemon's comment. Flailing his wood swords in the air violently.
"No…This is Master Masamune. A charming young man who we are going to help to clear the field for." She replied happily, however Goemon's face soon lost color. This meant more running around.
That was how most of the afternoon went, both the Takaeda and Uesugi armies met defeat to Masamune's troops with the help of Okuni and Goemon. It had taken a good portion of the afternoon to do, but the task had been completed thoroughly. Not a single officer was left on the field, however the commanders had retreated before they had been able to hunt them down.
"Haha! I've done it!" Masamune shouted victoriously, leaping from his steed happily. "Both armies have been annihilated! We'll move next to deal with Tokugawa's then the mighty Oda!"
Okuni's attention turned to Masamune, "Master Date, though it has been a pleasure working with you. I must go in search for Master Keiji."
"…Keiji…?"
Okuni nodded her head, "Yes Master Keiji."
"…As in Keiji Maeda?…"
Again Okuni nodded her head wondering silently if the boy was partially deaf.
"Well then I believe I will turn my attention to finding him as well! I have unsettled business with him! I've battled warriors all over Japan and now he is the last I must beat." Master Date stated with a smirk on his face.
"Lord Masamune, I thought Keiji had beat you in Kenshin's castle?" A soldier suddenly asked, obviously blowing the act Date had been trying to hold.
"Imbecile!" Date growled in his direction arms folding over his chest.
"You say you are looking for Keiji Maeda?" Someone with a rather deep voice interrupted the conversation. Turning her head, Okuni saw a man dressed in all white, with ice cold eyes that seemed to be always glaring no matter who he was looking at.
"Kenshin! There you are you coward! I Date Masam-"
With a quick swing of the flat side of his blade, the boy tyrant was knocked off his horse and forced to shut up. Okuni moved towards the man eyes widened once more.
"Do you know where Master Keiji is?" the priestess seemed eager to know.
"Yes…and I can take you to where he was last seen as well. But there is one condition. You must stay out of the battles between Shingen and myself." His words were spoken in an icy tone, however Okuni clapped her hands happily.
"We agree!"
Author: Wee! On a roll, been waiting 3 days to upload this story. Hope you all enjoy it. Please no flaming me for the strange pairings i make okay. ;;