Chapter 3

This was how it was to end for the great Keiji Meada? Rotting in a little cell until Mitsuhide gets bored and sets a date for his execution. Keiji looked to his bandaged shoulder for a moment, then out into the rest of this prison. Things didn't have to be this way, if he hadn't made such a simple mistake months ago he wouldn't be in this position. He'd probably be kicking back and relaxing, without a care in the world. At the time however, war was the way of life for him.

As the topic arrived he couldn't help but smile the Dance of Kyoto as they titled it amongst themselves. The battle that took place was among Geomon, Thieves, and himself. With in the brawl in the capital, the priestess Okuni had gotten caught up in the mess. The only woman to beat me numerous times in one day, all over one misunderstanding that apparently happened three years ago. However Keiji couldn't recall the event, so he just assumed he was drunk at the time.

Honor, how he missed the taste of a battle with that in it. Since Nobunaga began expanding, Keiji fought loyally at his side. Each battle he was left with an empty feeling though.

Okuni…Why did he have to start thinking about her. His stomach turned as he thought of that day, he had left during her dance for the battlefield. Why? Why did he do that? He ran like a coward. Sighing Keiji shifted his position as he continued to rot with in the cell.

The sound of footsteps soon interrupted the silence that had been present for the past day.

Curiously Keiji glanced towards the direction he heard the footsteps. Wondering silently if it was the executioner to deliver his death. However instead of a tall beefy man with a black hood, Mitsuhide was the one walking down the hall. Dressed in his battle armor and hand on the sword like always.

"So you've come to kill me yourself eh?"

With a sigh Mitsuhide shook his head, "You really believe I was going to kill you Keiji?"

"It'd be more merciful then leaving me to rot in a cell as battle takes place outside."

Pulling out the key to the cage, Mitsuhide opened the cell door and motioned for Keiji to come out. "I'm actually here again to get you to join us in our cause against Nobunaga."

Keiji stood up a frown passing for his face, "Didn't I already tell you I'm not a traitor?" The large man however wavered a bit as he got up. Sitting so long in a cell wounded often did that to you.

The two walked outside a moment in utter silence. Keiji looked about the camp that was set up around the prision. It seemed perfectly unharmed, perhaps there had been no battling while he was locked away. Well that was slightly relieving he was not missing out on much of life while caged like an animal.

"Keiji, I wish to tell you a story..of a job Nobunaga had me do some months..nearly a year ago."

"..okay..whatever"

"It was late spring I believe at the time, troops of Nobunaga were forced to hunt down a innocent priestess for some strange reason. I believe they thought the money she had on her was stolen" Mitsuhide began, lifting his head to look at the early night sky.

Priestess eh? Was there no escaping the thought of Okuni today? "Hmph..must of been an easy job."

"...The priestess was merely trying to get back to the Izumi shrine it turns out to give funds to the damaged temple it turned out. However we were sent to hunt her down..And not just some of us. Ieyasu, Hanzo, Ranmaru and myself..his top officers..chasing her as if she was some criminal." He side pushing some of his long hair from his face. "However I was sure her companion was a thief..but thats not the point. The poor girl was apparently leaving the capital.."

The capital? Late spring...could it of been?

"Through it her and the large swine with her were seperated. Alone she took on Hanzo and Ieyasu...And only the heavens know how she escaped with her life from them. Thats when I ran across her. Truely she was no older then Oichi if i remember right, I was to fight her..however I let her win so she could escape." He seemed deeply disturbed by the idea of hunting down an innocent person. Mitsu had always had a large heart, only heavens knew why he joined the military.

"And?" Keiji suddenly pressed on, what had happened.

"She managed to escape..her companion distracted Ranmaru so she could run.." He finished his eyes wandering over towards Keiji.

"What was her name?"

"Why does it matter what her name was?" Mitsuhide found himself asking curiously.

"It just does."

"Okuni"

Keiji stood there for a moment in silence. He had not been there, perhaps Nobunaga had known he had previous encounters with the young woman and had befriended her. He took in a deep breath, Okuni had not done anything wrong. He had heard she assisted Magoichi once in battle but that was never enough for him to persue and chase anyone else down. A growl escaped Keiji's throat, and Keiji sat on the ground.

"You win, Ill join...if you bring me some damn sake."

"We're already a step ahead of you." a voice from behind replied. Ugh..Magoichi was eves dropping that was wonderful.

"Here ya go Keiji," He grinned handing Keiji Maeda a small bowl, also handing Mitsuhide one, even though he had been trying to refuse it.

It had been sometime now that the three had been drinking. Keiji and Magoichi had been gulping it down, and Mitsuhide was still sipping his second refill. However Magoichi wasn't holding it aswell as the other two.

"Sooo Mitsu..." Magoichi began, "How'd you and..Oda's sister...you know.."

"Hey yea! I was wondering the same thing. I mean Nobunaga let you get close to her even though he didn't trust you?" Keiji tried to be a little more serious about it then Magoichi was.

"Well I suppose it just sorta happened. Her loyalty to her brother was severely shattered after the death of Nagamasa..and my own loyalty wasn't much better." He began, "Since saving her, Oichi seemed to perfer my company over anyone elses. We'd console in another..and one day it just happened. She kissed me, it felt too right to pull away."

"Then what about the scrawny..lil boy who looks like a girl?" the drunk magoichi asked.

"...what about Ranmaru?" Mitsuhide asked raising a brow.

"You know..what happened between..you two...you know..."

"No..I haven't a clue with what your talking about."

"Come on you knoow."

Keiji sighed looking at Magoichi, time to play translator, "I think what he's trying to say is. He thought you and that boy were...together."

"what!' Mitsuhide stared at both of them both blankly. "You thought...Ranmaru..and I were?"

Keiji and Magoichi looked at each other them to Mitsuhide and in unison nodded their head in response. Not only did they think it, majority of Japan probably thought that aswell.

"Well..we weren't" Mitsuhide responded, "Ranmaru, had feelings...I did not return. To me he was a little brother..not a lover." Suddenly Mitsuhide took a gulp of the sake he had left a slightly annoyed expression on his face. That explained a whole hell of a lot to him, why the guys always acted so strange around him.

Magoichi laughed watching Mitsuhide, "You didn't even realize people thought that? Haha!" Too intoxicated to know when to stop. "So lets get this. Your firstly thought to be gay with a boy whose is some years younger then you. But that turns out false however and your sleeping with Nobunaga's little sister who is even younger..wow what a player you ar-"

"HAIII!"

Out of literally no where the little sister of Nobunaga had arrived. Holding up the Yuri after a hard blow she had deliver to the side of Magoichi's head.

"How dare you call Lord Mitsuhide such revolting names!" Oichi glared angrily at the half concious Magoichi.

Keiji shook his head watched the events continueing to play out, least he took and held in alcohol better then Magoichi did, or that may of been him on the ground getting pounded on by the Demon Lord's little sister. Letting out a sigh he leaned back in the grass looking up at the star filled sky.

Mitsuhide ignored the situation knowing not to get in Oichi's way when she was mad. "Keiji you alright?"

"Yea..just thinking."

Cait: 00 Hello again. Hope your enjoying the story! Please leave reviews so I know if its any good or not. As you see i'm trying to keep this a more humerous story for I'm not too good at all the Angsty/ Serious stuff. Leave commets please 33