How are you all? I got glasses over the week, and I get a massive headache every time I wear them. I know, I know, it's probably because I'm not used to them, but still. Having glasses isn't exactly a good thing. Anyway, how did you guys enjoy the last chapter? I know it's strange to write a first person story, but hey, try new things, and if it doesn't work, then it doesn't work. Anyway, sorry for the late update!
Anyway, I'm just going to write the stupid chappie. Enjoy and have fun!
My body suddenly jerks like I'm freefalling and my eyes snap open. Something tells me that it was time to leave, like a internal alarm, and I stretch a little before I hop up with vigor and with a tinge of soreness. Looks like my wounds might reopen today. I observe the area around me, the forest expanding beyond the horizon. The two idiots- I mean, geniuses did tell me to get to the acquired location fairly soon. I could tell the sun began to rise inch by inch because the sky's shade was getting lighter and lighter, despite the rain. I slowly made my way down the tree branches and made a small hop with my feet, crunching the many different shaded leaves underneath them.
I ignore the growing pain in my stomach as I began my run, after all, how was I going to get there? The rain was still pouring buckets above my head, the pitter-patter getting louder and louder by the minute. Thinking about digging my daggers in Imagawa's stupid neck gets my heart beater faster in excitement, and I speed up my little run. My feet feel like they were plunged in ice, cold water by now, and I can't feel my fingers either. I did not have a very good sleep last night, and I definitely did not enjoy it either.
I stumble a little, due to my weak ankles, as my thoughts trailed along, they came to a halting stop as I thought about yesterday's ordeal. If that shinobi ever finds me, I would absolutely be killed. All more of the reason to kill Imagawa, huh? I could only wish this dumb war ended. Not because I want peace, more so that people can learn to stop being so greedy. I must admit, however, that even I am greedy in my own ways. Never have I met such a troublesome country than our own. We cannot even negotiate an alliance, and yet we are already discussing trading relations. I manage to recover from my little stumble.
My feet slide along the mud as I stop, seeing Nobunaga and his men marching to a large wooden gate. I manage to stop myself right beside Nobunaga, getting him to smirk with his infamous face. I feel relieved that I am back at his side again. I draw my sword quickly out of its sheath, flipping it upright to face battle.
"Yue, what perfect timing. I thought you would catch up with the rest of us. Thanks to your capture, Ieyasu Tokugawa has joined our ranks as a result," he said, as I bowed to him. He looked forward again, pointed his sword towards the looming gate. It was only a wall that separated us and the Imagawa. "Quick! We shall take Imagawa's head!" A loud roar came from behind, and I watched as hundreds and hundreds of men began to bash the gate like a pack of hungry wolves. I smiled, "This will be the day where Imagawa would fall... Ha."
I joined the fight soon afterwards, and it was absolute chaos. Swords clashed, arrows were fired, and men fell, one by one. Both sides weren't gaining much progress. Slowly making my way to the center, I kept Nobunaga in my peripheral vision, just in case there was something to go wrong.
"Oh? What do we have here?" I heard an obnoxiously high and choppy voice coming from the back of my head, and I turn to see the dumb clown in the flesh and clothing himself. I see him fondle with his kemari ball, and I immediately want to puke. Gods, if he wanted, he might as well stick his tiny ring-a-ding in the ball itself. But may the gods save me from that vision. My eyes narrow with annoyance, I don't understand why people value items like those. And here I was, thinking that people valued love and patience more. Guess not.
"Imagawa. You are in deep trouble, I'm afraid." I lifted up my sword, ready to strike. Suddenly, I reacted to an attack from the kicking clown. I didn't think he would have the heart to do that. Nor the capability. However, to be taken by storm, would take a lot more than a surprise attack. I slash back, popping his little ball. I felt and could have sworn to see him steam at the ears. "Hmph. What a pathetic attempt. Let me show you how it's done." I coax, I quicken my pace, slipping on the mud a little, due to the rain, and I end up slashing his dark grey sleeve. That was purely good luck.
"Eee! You destroyed my ball, and you slashed my arm!" I noticed that his head seemed to move like clockwork, going from one side of the neck to the other. The air seemed to almost boil between the two of us, and everything stopped. Everyone stared at me and the clown, and I immediately sense the Demon King's eyes fall upon my shoulders. I knew straight off that Nobunaga wanted this man dead by my own blade. Now, for a battle strategy of my own. Thoughts of his habits flashed by, telling me what to focus on. Perhaps when he moved one way, he has to move to the other side. Just like clockwork. Maybe I could use that to my advantage.
Blocking his attempts, I realize that his movements were graceful, yet choppy, and quick movements would surely bring an end to the rambunctious joker. His pale face might be smeared with liquid by the end of today's battle. I keep blocking the slashes and waiting for the perfect opportunity. I imagined him moving around and around, ticking and tocking along with his movements. What a sight. The sight of an idiot. My sword tore pass the very fibers of his flesh and made its way into the heart of his soul. Although I must admit, for such a ridiculous person, he sure put up a good fight.
"Good job, Yue," I turned to see Nobunaga's broad chest sticking into my face, making me step back a little. "You are quite impressive, it was a good thing I hired you all those years ago. You have proven yourself, so I believe you deserve some rest and rewards." I bowed down low to the point where I could not see his face anymore. I hear his booming laugh as we both made our way back to the base, with the rain, once again, pouring above our heads.
It had been awhile since the Imagawa was defeated. I heard that the Tokugawa have now made a solid alliance with the Oda, which was nice to hear, considering I would not die in the hands of that shinobi. As promised, I did get a ton of rest and bounty money, and I have always liked to take my time resting and taking a long break. Maybe it is because of the loneliness to why I do that.
The cold wind bites into my skin with its frosty fangs, and even with my lack of nerves, it shivers me to the bone. By now, I was in Chugoku, which was situated in Western Japan, it was the middle of winter, and snow graced the pathway with mounds of white. I walk down the path of grey, ironic how the path represents my true path. The forest lined its way around the path, and I strolled my way to a large dropoff in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps my life simply leads to nowhere. "Where in the world have I landed myself in?" I sigh, shaking my head, at my carelessness.
"My, what may the reason be for you to be here? In the middle of winter, of all times?" My head drifts to see a man that seemed quite young, but I knew much better, considering I recognized the face that made its appearance. He had a bow attached to a glove through some kind of adhesive, and my eyes sparkled in interest and delight. If there was something that made me happy other than seeing death was probably weapons. Being in the trading business sharpened me into a weapon fanatic, and even though I knew nothing about weapons, it was still fun to look at them all. "Oh dear, what did I do to deserve the Bond of the Seas to visit me?" He sees me tense. "Haha, relax, I am only joking!" His joyful laughter almost brings a smile to my face, and it was very refreshing to meet someone.
However, I knew I had to be careful, for I have heard many terrible things about the young man that stood before me. Devious and sharp, just like a human fox. "Good sir, I do not know what your intentions are, but I cannot trust you." I notice something move in the corner of my eye and I barely tilt my head towards the movement. What I saw made me quite shocked. "U-Ujiyasu?! Wha...?" I knew I wasn't supposed to act this way, but I managed to control myself before everything weaseled out. He smiled and chuckled.
"Hahaha! What's up, kid? I'm visiting the devious Motonari here," said the old man, walking with his special sword, with it glinting even, and making Motonari a bit dark. Once again, I cannot see anything and I do not get where this darkness is coming from. "Ha! That's right, I've heard of the rumors!" He directed to Motonari. "Also, Shingen and Kenshin are here as well." I thought for a moment as the names he talked about registered into my already racked brain. "Shingen...? And Kenshin? Uh oh... That means-" I fidgeted with my hands. The peeled and broken leather were worn down, and my fingers were slipped into the tiny cutoff ends. I always wore black, or I think I always wear black, due to the reason that it's the only "color" I can legitimately see. "Come with us, let's get warmed up."
I trail along with Ujiyasu and Motonari chatting away like two little birds in their nests, and I look around to see a small bustling town in the distance. I could barely make out the many tiny shops set up and running, with lineups and villagers crowding the area. Much like an ant hill. Even more off in the distance, I see farmers clearing their fields, even though I wonder myself about why they chose to do it in the dead of winter. Their backs were bent like blades of grass, and their legs were dirty from all of the mud that splashed on them in the process.
I finally arrived at the large castle that was the home of Motonari Mori, and I was not looking forward to seeing Shingen and Kenshin. They must also have their subordinates with them as well, for I hear they never leave their respective territories without them. My, then that means I have to face the honor guy, and that other honor guy. I bet there's a third honor guy bound to exist somewhere. Then there is this girl who acts like a fly, buzzing around and annoying the heck out of you. What was her name, a female shinobi? Gah, no point in thinking about that now.
My steps echo through the empty and abandoned hall as I observe tiny spiders crawling above, on the ceiling. The sheer creepiness of the place brings a haunting feeling, a certain chill down my spine, and it feels very familiar to me. Deja vu, I've heard? I am not quite sure, considering it was one of the foreign ones that spoke of such a phenomenon. Perhaps the French. The halls were dark and murky, creating the perfect atmosphere for an assassination.
We entered through the small sliding doors into a much better lit room, and I saw the two elders sit there, just drinking tea. My mind thinks of all of the possibilities of tea, like a kid at a sweet stand. I wonder how they may react to me. Well, too late, because they already noticed me and they had the audacity to stare. Like deer in headlights. One, who was Kenshin, wore his famous white hood as always, and narrowed his eyes at me. While the other, Shingen, kept his red fan by his side, and stared at me wide-eyed through his red ogre mask. After they looked at me, they looked at each other, and then back to me.
"Ah," began Shingen, who recognized me before Kenshin, "Maya, I see that you have decided to stay with me! Hahahaha!" However, as I look at Kenshin, I didn't have to be a genius to figure that there was rage in his eyes. Even though I was colorblind, I could still see the initial spark of fury. I mentally sigh, what was he thinking, saying that I would stay with him?! I look at Ujiyasu to find a confused and curious look on his face, while Motonari simply looked back and forth; stuck in a heated argument. "What is it, Kenshin? Jealous that I get a fine warrior like Maya?"
"Hmm. I believe you are talking to Cho here. Who is this Maya you speak of?" He inquires coldly to Shingen. It shows that they have been rivals for a long time. I realize how dangerous my situation could get by the way Shingen's glare makes me feel uneasy. I look at Ujiyasu, and Ujiyasu kept a straight face, but soon broke into a thunderous laughter. His chuckles and laughter fills the room, along with chortles and snorts. When he finally calms down, he most definitely helped me set things straight.
"I think what you guys have here is not a rivalry," he spoke while pointing his finger accusingly, receiving the icy and steely glares from the Tiger and the Dragon. He ignored them and carried on. "No, you guys have an identity confused lady here! Her name is Shina, not Maya, nor Cho! Eeheehee!" He is nearly crying from laughter, and a warm feeling envelops my soul. Though it is not this "love" I hear on the streets. What... What a foreign feeling.
However, my brain does not linger long on the subject before I am dragged aggressively into a group hug between Ujiyasu, Shingen, Kenshin, and along with Motonari laughing at the side. Perhaps I may call them my "family". My new family.
Author Notes:
Ooo boy, what a day it was today. I am so exhausted, been running around the local mall, and I really hope you guys enjoyed the chappie! Also, I would like to thank Marian (which she probably won't read this :p) because she was awesome enough to read the first chapter and write this enormous list of things I could do to improve the story! Though I would like to take things nice and slow for the development of a couple of things, so yeah. Also, don't think I am ignoring your suggestions, because I think they're great, I'm just writing the foundations of the story (Because I would like to take things nice and slow for this story) before I start using all of them, so they aren't ignored at all!
Finally school is starting to pick up for me, and I'm really starting to enjoy English, Math, Applied Skills, (Home Ec, woodworking, and I think HACE, which is Health And Career Education, and automotive.) and French. (Though I am horrible at it) Since I have a crap ton of tests to get done, because our first term is finishing, I might be busy, so the next update may be late! I hope you don't mind! And about the running around, I was actually with Marian today too, so yeah. Apparently, Justin Bieber was there before. But who cares about Justin Bieber?! (Gets a high five) I'm sorry if I may have offended anyone.
Question of the Day: What is your most favorite fruit? Or for that matter, favorite food? I know this sounds strange, but write a descriptive paragraph on it, and I might post it on my next chapter the next week or so! You don't have to, but I would love to see some writing action out there! Or just talk about your favorite food, I don't care!
As for me, my favorite fruit would be a tie between mangoes and grapes! (Hmm, I may know a certain "bovine urine" who also really likes grapes. What is with that anyway, can someone answer? I just saw this weird internet meme about it.) I really like the tangyness of mangoes, they just make me very happy. (Not in that way, pervs!) And grapes, I love any grape favored crap, like candy, juice, and popsicles. Yet there's also apples... I really like hard apples, especially the ones that have a satisfying crunch to them.
Until the sun sets again, and thanks for reading! TheCrazyPeople!