Disclaimer: I don't own anything! Except Sakura, she is my own created character, second daughter of Tadakatsu Honda, thus making her Ina's younger sister
AN: I know it's been a really really long time since I updated anything, but I have a good excuse! I think... well my internet and school work... same old same old really, so I'll just shut up and start writing! Oh and I played this stage earlier so I have a better idea of the battle now! Finally stopped playing Warriors Orochi 2 and DW 6. Oh yeah I've also tweaked a *slight* part of the battle, you'll find out in Sakura's first part.
Chapter 3: The Battle of Nagashino Part II – The Retreat
Nobunaga Oda was on his horse in the Oda-Tokugawa main camp, his bride No by his side. Suddenly he heard a voice beside him, many of the troops jumped but Nobunaga didn't, he didn't even look the newcomers way like No.
"My lord, Katsuyori Takeda has started to retreat, Nobuyuki Sanada is covering the escape point and Keiji Maeda and Yukimura Sanada are going to defend the main camp until Katsuyori has almost fully retreated" Hanzo relayed the information like any loyal spy, he detested Nobunaga but served him faithfully as it was Ieyasu's orders.
Nobunaga didn't look surprised, but No looked downhearted, Nobunaga turned to a messenger "Tell Magoichi Saika to order the riflemen to take alternating shots, as one man fires the one next to him should reload, as he reloads the other should fire. Don't give the enemy room to breathe, they can advance in-between rounds" The messenger bowed and ran to where Magoichi Saika was stationed, Nobunaga finally looked towards Hanzo and nodded, and Hanzo knew what he had to do.
***
Sakura was cutting down troops with Toshiie Maeda, despite the riflemen the Takeda cavalry was still vast in number, and it took every good shot Sakura had to help even the front lines, fire covered the battlefield from the gunpowder, she had dismounted her horse early in the fray, despite Toshiie's strong protests, to prevent him from coming to any harm.
She saw a cavalry unit heading towards the main camp, then she saw a spare barrel of gunpowder between them and the main camp, and saw fire around the battlefield, a plan quickly formed in her head, then Toshiie's voice filled the battlefield "Sakura! Stop them!" She didn't need telling twice.
Sakura drew a fire arrow and ran towards the fire and placed the front of the arrow in it, setting it alight, she then carefully aimed towards the barrel, Toshiie's screaming voice called out to her from a few hundred meters away, she waited.
As soon as the cavalry unit was close enough she released the arrow, it flew through the air with frightening precision and went straight into the heart of the barrel. It exploded, killing the cavalry and the troops who had been close enough to the explosion, luckily the Oda riflemen nearby survived, she took a deep breath, and it felt like the battlefield had gone quiet.
That was because it had, the riflemen had stopped shooting. Sakura heard Toshiie shout for her attention, she turned to face him and saw him galloping towards her, when he got closer to her he stretched his arm out for her to grab hold of, she knew there must be a problem if Toshiie wanted her out of the battlefield that quickly. She grabbed hold of his arm and he pulled her on top of the horse behind him.
As soon as they were back behind their main lines they heard another charge of the Takeda cavalry, Sakura was slightly relieved that it was only a captain leading them, neither Yukimura nor Keiji were in sight. When the whole cavalry unit was visible then the riflemen did another full round again, but it didn't stop. Sakura looked towards the riflemen units, she had to stop her mouth dropping open, they were firing in alternating rounds.
"Nice shot on the gunpowder by the way" Toshiie almost shouted to her, she almost smiled at his attempt to cheer her up through the noise of the rounds. Then the guns stopped, and for a short time the battlefield was silent then the war cries of the two armies were heard again throughout the battlefield again, the charge was being commenced again.
***
Katsuyori Takeda was running through the 'back' of the battlefield, behind the main camp trying to reach Nobuyuki and the escape point, Tokugawa and Oda battalions were blocking his main route, and they were pursuing him, led by Hideyoshi Hashiba. He should have formed some other escape routes when Yukimura's scouts and Keiji Maeda both said that some Oda and Tokugawa troops had left the battlefield.
He stopped when more firing was heard on the other side of the battlefield, his guards stopped with him and kept scanning the area while Katsuyori listened intently to the fray. The guns didn't stop for a long time. And when they did it went deathly silent, but not for long, then the war cry of the Oda, and then the Tokugawa behind them, brought Katsuyori back to his senses and he ran on with his guards.
Eventually the escape point wasn't very far away, then he was ambushed by Hanzo and many Iga Ninja were with him, Katsuyori needed help if he was going to survive this, and he needed it fast.
***
Keiji was running with Yukimura to get to the escape point, they figured that Katsuyori would have escaped by now, only to find that the path he should have taken was blocked by many enemy soldiers, Keiji and Yukimura hid behind a wagon and observed the force in front of them.
"Should we try and cut through them?" Yukimura whispered to Keiji
"We could try, but it's obvious that Katsuyori went another way and we'd waste too much time trying to get through all of these" Much as Keiji would have enjoyed it, he wanted Yukimura to survive this battle at least, and he'd been praying that the final charge of the cavalry had bought them enough time, but now he was doubting it. "We'll go around them like Katsuyori did, let's just pray he made it to your brother"
Yukimura looked at him surprised; he'd never mentioned that Nobuyuki was his brother. Keiji sped off before Yukimura could ask anything and then Yukimura found himself sprinting to keep up with the giant man's steps. Yukimura made sure that they were out of hearing range of any troops before he had to shout, so he could be heard above gunfire, to Keiji "How did you know that Nobuyuki was my brother?"
"I didn't until earlier today" Keiji admitted, deciding to be completely honest with the younger warrior "Sakura Honda told me, literally just before the battle started"
Yukimura stopped dead in his tracks; Keiji stopped as well, a few meters in front of him "Sakura? My future sister-in-law?" He asked, he thought he'd seen her on the battlefield when he had been caught with the bullets with his cavalry unit, just before he'd blacked out, but had hoped he was seeing things. "Yeah, Sakura Honda, youngest child of Tadakatsu Honda" Keiji repeated, eager to move on, they both knew it was dangerous to stand still for too long, especially with all the riflemen.
"Is Ina here as well?" Yukimura asked, finding himself suddenly curious
"No, Sakura, Tadakatsu, Ieyasu and Hanzo, and a few minor officers I think, probably lieutenants, but I've got a bad feeling..." Keiji trailed off
Suddenly, Yukimura felt he had the bad feeling too "Why?"
"Because she was placed with the Oda, not with her father, like Ina would have been, she was placed with me and my uncle Toshiie Maeda. I've got a feeling that Nobunaga is trying to get Sakura into the Oda, she's a better shot than Ina I'm led to gather from Nobuyuki"
"Yeah she is, stronger too. Maybe you're right..." Yukimura agreed, suddenly a thought hit him "The sudden alliance between the Oda and Tokugawa, maybe Nobunaga was trying to make it stronger!"
"What do you mean?" Keiji was confused
Yukimura knew Keiji was confused, but he was very patient person, luckily "Think about it, he put Sakura, Tadakatsu's beautiful, only single daughter, with the Maeda's, and you're only just older than her"
Keiji understood instantly, he didn't know whether he should be appalled or pleased "He was trying to pair me and Sakura together?! Tadakatsu would never fight against one of his own daughters... And Ina is going to marry into the house of Sanada!"
Yukimura caught onto Keiji's idea "Of course, he's trying to strengthen his army through marriage, because he assumed you would be loyal to Toshiie, who would never betray Nobunaga, Ina and Sakura are hardly ever apart, thus bringing the Sanada to the Maeda, who are in the Oda" Yukimura was also equally impressed and repulsed by Nobunaga's smart plan
Keiji smiled, but not for his loss of Sakura "And I ruined his plan" Yukimura joined in with his smile, glad that one of Nobunaga's master plans had not worked.
The guns stopped and it was eerily silent for a time, then the sound of the Oda and Tokugawa war cries shook the battlefield with its sheer volume. "Let's keep moving" Yukimura suggested, and he and Keiji ran on.
Keiji suddenly became worried, Nobunaga's plan had come closer to fruition than he had let on, Keiji had been instantly infatuated with the younger Honda sister, like Nobunaga had hoped for, and he had felt Sakura try to grab him when he changed his affiliations from the Oda and saved Yukimura. Keiji forced his legs to carry on when he felt like he should have stopped dead, did she feel for him like he did her? He shook his head, there was no way he could let himself believe that, and even if she did, and Nobunaga's plan worked and she stayed in the Oda, he had blown his chances by deserting the Oda, and Keiji mentally kicked himself, he had effectively ruined his chances with the perfect girl, but he was still glad he had saved Yukimura instead of staying in the Oda.
Eventually they reached the bridge crossway, and they both stopped when they saw troops, bearing the Tokugawa flag, crossing the bridge. And Tadakatsu Honda was at the head of the troops.
"Tadakatsu Honda!" Yukimura said, and Keiji realised that he wouldn't have fought a battle against Tadakatsu, only on the same side as him, but he still would have seen his almost unparalled might on the battlefield.
"You go on to Katsuyori. I'll stop Tadakatsu" Keiji declared his next move, then looked towards Yukimura, not for permission, merely to see his face.
Yukimura looked at him, horrified; the look Keiji had wanted from him "Are you crazy? You're on your own and he virtually has the whole Tokugawa army with him!"
Keiji merely shrugged, then whistled "I guess I am crazy" Was all he answered and then his horse came up beside him and he mounted it. "Go on Yukimura, get Katsuyori out of here. Once you've both gone I'll follow you"
Yukimura nodded and ran on, even though he doubted that he would survive the duel with Tadakatsu, but he knew that they were both impossibly strong, and hope dared to flicker in Yukimura's heart, maybe Keiji had a chance after all
***
Tadakatsu was leading his troops forward across the bridge crossways, he was trying to deal with the hint Ieyasu had given him to after the battle and the news that Hanzo had given him when he had passed him to leave the battlefield, Tadakatsu knew that news made Hanzo as uneasy as it had him.
'So, Lord Nobunaga is trying to get my girl to join the Oda, maybe eventually both of them.... I don't like it but the Tokugawa aren't really in a position to argue' Tadakatsu thought 'I wonder what his plans really are?'
A whistle caught Tadakatsu's attention, bringing him from his thoughts, then suddenly Keiji Maeda on his powerful steed jumped down onto the bridge, Tadakatsu's horse reared but he calmed him down with little effort from the mighty warrior.
"Ah, so the traitor shows his face at last" Tadakatsu taunted, and then changed his tone "Why did you betray the Oda? You've been there your entire life... Fancy a change of scene?"
Keiji looked the fearsome, elder warrior straight in the eye "No" He decided to defend himself with the truth, he wasn't a traitor "I didn't like the methods the Oda used to win, besides..." He tilted his head inquisitively, but cheekily at the same time, a cocky grin on his face "You can't say you're not happy I saved your future son in laws life"
Tadakatsu stiffened, he couldn't deny he was grateful to the young and foolish warrior, but he wasn't going to admit it 'How did he know?' Then he remembered that he had stationed with Sakura, no doubt she would have reacted to the first Takeda charge. But it didn't matter to Tadakatsu; he just wanted to wipe that stupid grin off the kid's face. "That's beside the point; I'm not the one who betrayed my family"
"Seems to me, fighting your family is as good as betraying them, and yeah, ok, I betrayed Toshiie, but I'm doing it for a good cause. Besides, I know what Nobunaga have in store for your little daughter, perhaps both of them" Keiji was going to mention Ieyasu's name, but he decided against it, he didn't want to break the Honda-Tokugawa family relationship up, even though he should have. But he felt that if turmoil started now he could easily ruin Ina's chances of marriage to Nobuyuki, and he'd never hear the end of it.
Tadakatsu couldn't believe his ears, even Hanzo didn't know what was going to happen, how could he know?! But that just infuriated Tadakatsu; he was determined to leave this battlefield with his daughter beside him. Tadakatsu drew his spear and kicked his horse forward, charging at Keiji "Leave him!" He barked at his troops "He's mine!" And they obediently stayed away from the two warriors, knowing that the duel that was about to commence would be the most memorable one they would ever witness in their lives.
***
Katsuyori Takeda was having a lot of trouble trying to fight Hanzo, even though he'd lost most of his Ninja and Katsuyori still had a lot of his guards left, he needed a stronger warrior than himself to save him 'Here's where Keiji would come in useful' He thought.
It wasn't long before his silent plea for help was answered, and it arrived in the form of Yukimura "Lord Katsuyori! I'm here!" And he charged in, cutting down many Ninja.
Hanzo, who had been hanging back, waiting for Katsuyori to tire, was now annoyed "Infidel... You shall not interfere with my master's plans..." And he jumped forward, Scythe ready, pointing forward.
Yukimura knew he had a tough fight on his hands, but after Keiji he was feeling strangely optimistic and energetic. He felt he could beat the Shadow.
***
Ieyasu had hung back and let Tadakatsu take charge of the Tokugawa army to find Katsuyori, he had gone to the Oda main camp, and Nobunaga had made everyone leave, including his own guards and his wife.
"You're not trying to squirm your way out on your end of the deal are you?" Nobunaga asked him
"No, but I just feel that there should be another way. You cannot ask an almost 18 year old girl to part from her father, she's too young and her sister is soon to be married!" Ieyasu answered
"Then that should distract Tadakatsu considerably for a short time" Nobunaga answered calmly
Ieyasu sighed internally, he'd tried but secretly he knew that he could not sway Nobunaga from his decision "At least tell me why you want Sakura in the Oda" Ieyasu pleaded
"You will know in time, good friend" Nobunaga waved his hand, and Ieyasu knew that was his clue to leave, the conversation was officially over, and Ieyasu had lost the argument, and plea, for Sakura to return home with the Tokugawa. Ieyasu left the Oda main camp and it was quickly re vacated by guards and by No. Ieyasu just prayed that Nobunaga would say nothing on the subject to anyone.
But now there was only one thing truly bothering Ieyasu: How was he going to tell Sakura, let alone Tadakatsu? Especially with Ina's wedding so close, Sakura would be so disappointed to miss it, and Ina would plea that she needed her sister at her wedding, the two had been inseparably for 14 years.
***
Yukimura had eventually beaten Hanzo, who had retreated, extremely disappointed.
It didn't take long after that for Yukimura and Katsuyori to reach Nobuyuki and they retreated.
They hadn't been travelling for long when they were caught up by Keiji Maeda, and some remaining Takeda officers, clearly Keiji had tried to save everyone he could, and Katsuyori thanked him from his heart.
Yukimura lagged slightly behind and Keiji followed suit, everyone assumed it was so they would act as vanguard, but they had different ideas. "Did you hear anything?" Yukimura asked
Keiji nodded gravely "I caught the end of a conversation between Sakura, Ieyasu, Tadakatsu and Nobunaga, she's being forced to stay in the Oda. Tadakatsu looked grim but he can't do anything, neither can Sakura nor Ieyasu. Nobunaga's got them on too tight of a leash"
"So it could still be as we feared..." Yukimura concluded eventually
"How so?" Keiji asked
Yukimura looked grimly at him "Toshiie's not too old to marry Sakura, no one is, she's almost 18, and there are still plenty of other powerful families in the Oda... The Shibata's and the Hashiba's, even the Ishida's for a start!"
Keiji despaired as he realised Yukimura was right, he could only pray for a miracle, he didn't like the idea of her being unprotected in the Oda.
***
Sakura watched as the Tokugawa army left to go back to Mikawa, she grew sad as she felt she should be with them. She took a deep breath and then sighed. She couldn't believe she was stuck here. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder, comforting, she turned around and it was Toshiie.
"Don't worry, you'll see them again before you know it" He said and smiled, she couldn't help but smile faintly in return, she somehow felt she knew that Toshiie would look after her in both Keiji's, Hanzo's and her father's absence. His smile faded abruptly, which made her dissipate also "Lord Nobunaga wants to see you."
It felt strange to have to refer to Nobunaga as 'Lord Nobunaga' now, she'd have to remember her place, she may have been given a high rank, far superior to her rank in the Tokugawa, probably to soften the blow of the move, but now she worked in the strictest army in Japan, possibly the world, she couldn't answer back here and get away with it like she could in the Tokugawa.
"Sakura, I have a job for you... There's someone I need you to protect, his name is Mitsunari Ishida, he works for Hideyoshi and is the son of a powerful family, keep him safe for me will you?"
Sakura dreaded this job already, if he worked for Hideyoshi then that meant that Magoichi would not be far away, and she inwardly cringed at the thought of him being so close to her without any protection, she could only pray that this Mitsunari would be of some help to her.
AN: Ok, there we go, chapter 3... 3000 words roughly (well in my word document at least), next chapter is almost finished so that should be up soon as well... hopefully.
Please R&R, just click on the review button below, no flames please
