I found myself walking though the streets of Mino. But I wasn't alone, for it was Lady Oichi who asked me to accompany her as she simply wanted to get out of the castle. Damn it, I called her "Lady Oichi" again, didn't I? How many times has she told me not to call her "Lady Oichi", just Oichi? Must have been at least 5 or 7 or something. Anyway, we were walking around Mino and saw a group of people gathering together. Oichi turned to me and gave me an excited look.

"Come on, Hiro! Let's check out what all the commotion's about!" said Oichi, as she pulled me towards the commotion, not giving me a chance to respond. As soon as we got close enough, I was a bit shocked and surpirsed, as men in armor were escorting a carriage. I could swear I've seen these men before.

"Is that...the Azai?" I asked with a bit of confusion. What the hell was going on? "Aren't the Oda and the Azai enemies?"

"I don't know..." replied Oichi. "It can't be an invasion, so who knows?"

This just got me curious and, for some wierd reason, hungry. My stomach growled, telling me something like this, "Hey! Feed me, damn it!" I blushed a bit as Oichi heard my stomach growling, which made her giggle a bit. "Sounds like somebody needs something to eat. Let's go back to my room." said Oichi.

"Well, what do you expect? I haven't eaten all day and you woke me up and-" was all I could say, as Oichi looked at me with the puppy-dog pout and teary eyes. She could tell I was a bit ticked off and always used this method to get me to forgive her. I blushed like crazy and felt a few of my nerves twitch. "Alright, alright...Stop looking at me like that, please..." I said, as I gave in to the look, which caused Oichi to laugh.

"Come on," said Oichi, as she grabbed my arm and lead me back to the castle. Let's get something to eat." We walked inside the castle and both of us had our food cooked by the maids. Oichi and I always talked to each other about anything, such as our current situation, the war, etc. I guess you can say we've become good friends. A few minutes had passed and the food was served. Before I started eating, I looked at Oichi with a small sense of seriousness in them. She looked me in the eye and said, "What is it?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"You can ask me Anything..."

"I know I've only been here for a few months, and I still barely understand the things that are going on..." I said with seriousness, determination, and a hint of sadness in my voice. "I want you to tell me about your brother, Nobunaga. His goals, his plans...Anything, okay?" I barely my lord and rarely spoke to him, yet he somehow sparked a reason within me to fight. I wonder what it was.

Oichi nodded and said, "Very well. I'll tell you about my brother..." She looked at my serious eyes with softness, and at the same time, sadness. "Currently, He's planning to take Kyoto to further his ambition of uniting the land. I think he plans on allying with another clan to do so..." I was a tad surprised when I heard this, though I didn't show it. That must've been why the Azai clan were here earlier. "Only my brother has that kind of strength, but..." Her soon reverted to a serious, sad look. "...If only I did too..."

I saw the sadness in Oichi's eyes and wanted to reach out, but I couldn't. Looking back at me, Oichi regained some of her lost confidence and put her hand on her chest. "For my brother, I'd do anything..." said Oichi, as some of that confidence was pulled back into her heart. She then looked at me, curiously. "What about you? What do you fight for? Anyone in particular?"

I felt myself twitch a bit as she asked me this. I wanted to say that I fight for her, but I didn't want to come out to strongly about these wierd feelings. I wanted to show my chivalrous side once again, like I do on the battlefield sometimes, but I felt a bit awkward at the moment. "I fight for our lord and his ambitions..." I said, although I was lying. Oichi eyes looked saddened for a second, but she just pushed it off. I felt really stupid at that moment.

"It seems my brother has really influenced you..." said Oichi, giggling a bit. I couldn't really tell if they were. "Anyway, I must get going. I hope we get to talk to each other again soon." she said as she got up and left me in the room, alone. "Damn it..." was all I could say. How could I have been so stupid? Why did I have to lie?

Just then, Hideyoshi appeared right next to me. "Seems like somebody is having trouble with the princess..." said Hideyoshi, causing me to fall out of my chair as I wasn't expecting him. "Let's talk while we walk, okay?" I nodded as I got up and the two of us left.

NORMAL POV

Oichi was walking the halls of the castle, with a pair of teary eyes. She was quickly walking to her room, not wanting anyone to see her while she's feeling like this. 'Why doesn't he just come out and say it? It's pretty obvious that he's just hiding his feelings for me...' thought Oichi to herself. 'Why does he not just confess them to me? Am I not his friend? I mustn't think like that. Of course I am.' As she continued walking the halls, she found herself outside of a huge room with both the Oda and the Azai.

"Oichi...Come here..." said Nobunaga, as if he sensed she was outside. Hearing the voice of her brother, Oichi wiped her unfallen tears and did as she was told. She looked around with a confused look, as all that were presently in the room looked at her. "What's going on, brother?" asked Oichi, feeling very awkward.

"Sister...In order for our alliance with the Azai to be built, we had to offer a person's hand in a marriage ceremony..." said Nobunaga to Oichi, who was a bit shocked and scrared, but wiped them off and replaced them with trust and understanding. Of she trusted her brother and had faith in his plans. "Yes...but what does this have to do with me?" asked Oichi, although she probably knew the answer.

"In order to forge the alliance, you, sister, are to marry the current head of the Azai clan, Nagamasa." said Nobunaga, with complete and total confidence in his plan. He then pointed towards a blonde yound man. Oichi looked towards the blonde, who waved and smiled in response.

"Hello, Nice to meet you, Lady Oichi!" said Nagamasa, with positive feelings in his voice.

To be continued...