Disclaimer: Hey guys! It's me with another awesome chapter of Bitter Love. This chapter is the official Battle of Tetorigawa and we get to see how Mitsuhide and Kaya met. Awesome, right? Well I don't have much to say so enjoy the chapter!

I walked out of the main garrison with my bow and arrow in my hand. I was about to go join Motochika since, once again, I was stuck with him for the battle. Though this time, I was happy about it. Motochika has proven himself as a great ally and an even better friend.

"Kaya."

I turned around upon hearing that voice and bowed. "Lord Nobunaga."

Nobunaga soon walked beside me and said, "I wish to debrief you about the battle."

"Of course." I nodded.

"The Uesugi Army flood attack has isolated Katsuie. To rescue him, you must defeat Kagekatsu Uesugi and destroy the embankments." Nobunaga explained. "Katsuie must then be guided to safety. If Kanetsugu gets in your way, then you must end him. My death, Mitsuhide's death, or Motochika's death...Either will spell defeat for us today. Come, Raven of Oda, show me just how brave you are."

I nodded. "I live to serve you Lord Nobunaga."

Nobunaga nodded before walking off. I walked over to Motochika who was waiting for me. Mitsuhide was somewhere nearby.

"Are you ready?" Motochika asked.

"I was born ready." I replied.

When the sound of a horn echoed through the battlefield, I immediately ran off with Motochika at my side.

"We are firmly on the back foot now. Any suggestions, Lady Kaya?" Motochika asked, knowing Nobunaga had debriefed me.

"Destroy the embankments and seize the garrisons." I answered.

"Giving the water a path to drain...Bold." Motochika muttered.

"First, let's take out Kagekatsu." I said.

Motochika only nodded. We took out any enemy officers we saw along the way. Finally, we came to the garrison Kagekatsu Uesugi was in. I was surprised to see Mitsuhide in there already fighting him.

"It seems Mitsuhide beat us here." Motochika commented.

I notched an arrow while saying, "Well, he can't have all the fun now can he?" I let the arrow loose and watched as it struck Kagekatsu in the heart.

"There's only one person I know who has the much skill with a bow and arrow." Mitsuhide smiled as he turned to me.

Motochika looked outside before saying, "The embankments have fallen."

"I shall defend the western garrison. You two go to their aid." Mitsuhide said to us.

I nodded. "Of course. Katsuie isn't dying on my watch."

Motochika and I ran out of the garrison. On my way, one of my messengers ran up to me. "Lady Kaya!"

"What is it?" I demanded.

"The eastern garrison gates have opened. Kanetsugu Naoe is moving towards Lord Shibata!" The messenger explained.

"Damn." I swore. "Thank you for telling me. Now, go!"

The messenger nodded before running off. Motochika smirked at me. "You have your own messengers?"

"One of the good things about being a general. Now, you heard the man. We must help Katsuie before Kanetsuga defeats him." I told him before running towards the central garrison with Motochika right behind me.

When we made it, I said to Motochika, "Hold the garrison. I'll take care of Kanetsugu. Make sure Lord Shibata gets in here alive!"

Motochika only nodded while muttering to himself, "She's younger than me, yet she still gives me orders."

"I heard that." I smiled slightly before running outside of the garrison.

I saw Katsuie battling Kanetsugu. "Lord Shibata!" I notched an arrow before letting it fly towards the Uesugi general.

Kanetsugu smacked it away, but it provided enough time for Katsuie to retreat towards the garrison. Once he was inside, I put all my focus on to Kanetsugu. "So, you are the great Kanetsugu Naoe?"

"Yes. And I assume you are the Raven of Oda, Lady Kaya?" Kanetsugu retorted.

"Yes." I nodded before smirking slightly. "Let's see if you are as great as a warrior as they say." With that being said, I lunged at him.

Kanetsugu was greatly skilled with his sword. Every time I swung my bow at him, he either blocked it or countered. He wasn't having any progress either as I always blocked his sword with my bow. But one time...

I wasn't quick enough.

I inhaled sharply as I stepped back from Kanetsugu while holding my shoulder. Damn it, that sword hurts. I cautiously lifted my hand off my shoulder, but immediately put it back down. The wound was life threatening, but it would be if I didn't stop the bleeding soon.

"You are good, but not good enough." Kanetsugu said as he walked towards me. "It deeply grieves me that I must kill you on this day, but until this sickening war ends, I'm afraid I must do all in my power to make it so."

I growled. I couldn't fight with one arm, that was for sure. So, as much as I hated to do so, I yelled, "MOTOCHIKA!"

I swear I'd never seen the man move so fast in the time I've known him. Motochika was upon Kanetsugu in moments and Kanetsugu was struggling to keep up with Motochika's swift attacks. One attack hit Kanetsugu in the stomach, and Kanetsugu stepped back. He knew he had to retreat. But before he left, he said, "Only a fool would think to attack the Uesugi. You shall feel the terrible might of our wrath." He then retreated to the nearest stronghold.

Motochika ran over to me, and held me bridal style just as I was about to collapse. "Are you alright?"

"Do I look alright?" I growled.

Motochika carried me in to the garrison and laid me down gently. He took a small piece of cloth out and wrapped my wound up while applying pressure to stop the bleeding. Katsuie walked over and hung his head shamefully. "I bring shame to the Oda by resorting to help from an outsider."

"Your philosophy is outdated. Nobunaga moves forward always, yet you are stuck in the past." Motochika told him, never taking his eyes off my wound as he continued wrapping the cloth around it.

"My lord is the only one who need move forward." Katsuie objected. "As his retainer, my sole task is to provide him with all the support he requires."

"But you must help yourself by letting go of the past Katsuie." I told him as I stood up since Motochika was done wrapping the wound. "What good would it do if you went in to battle with a heavy heart?"

"Uh...Lady Kaya, I.." Katsuie stuttered.

I held up a hand, stopping him from talking. "Merely think about my words Katsuie."

Katsuie nodded. "Yes, my Lady."

I only smiled before Motochika and I walked out of the garrison. But we stopped in our tracks as we heard Lord Nobunaga.

"Let us greet the God of War with the fires of hell." He said.

The Oda army set fires to all the garrisons. I looked around and said, "The fires have spread to our own garrisons."

"Remarkable. He issues a challenge to the immobile Uesugi, and at the same time test Mitsuhide's own ambiton." Motochika mumbled.

"What the bloody hell does Mitsuhide have to do with this?" I nearly shouted.

"You'll see." Motochika smirked.

I shook my head before saying, "We should return to Mitsuhide. I've got a feeling since he is the nearest officer to Kenshin's sister, Aya, he will be her target."

"What does Aya have to do with this?" Motochika asked.

I winked. "You'll see."

Motochika only stared at me before grumbling under his breath while I merely laughed as I ran towards the western garrison where Mitsuhide was. When we made it inside, Mitsuhide was looking rather lost.

"Why would Lord Nobunaga do this?" Mitsuhide asked quietly.

"He is testing you Mitsuhide." Motochika said. "Can't you feel it? Come, show him how real your ambition truly is!"

"You handle Aya." I told Motochika. "Mitsuhide and I will make sure these Uesugi soldiers don't interfere. With Aya being the sister of Kenshin, they'll want to come after you if they see you battling Aya and I know that no matter how strong you hard you can't battle an army by yourself."

Motochika nodded and was about to run out of the garrison, but he stopped at the exit and turned to me before asking slowly, "You think I'm strong?"

I raised an eyebrow. "I just said so, didn't I?"

Motochika didn't say anything after that as he ran out the garrison. I was still confused about why he asked me that, but I didn't think much on it as I stood back to back with Mitsuhide, cutting down soldier after soldier. Mitsuhide chuckled and said, "Motochika was acting rather strange."

"Something tells me you know something I do not. Spill it, Mitsuhide." I demanded.

Even though I couldn't see his face, I knew he was grinning as he said, "What I know is something you and Motochika must figure out on your own."

"Cocky brat." I grumbled before I ducked and stabbed an arrow through an Uesugi soldier's heart. "Where the heck is Motochika? It shouldn't take this long to deal with one woman!"

Just as I said that, Motochika ran in. He stared at the soldiers surrounding Mitsuhide and I for a second before leaning back and strumming the strings on his shamisen, letting out three huge blue balls of energy that practically destroyed all the soldiers.. I frowned. I really need to start bringing my elemental weapons in to battle instead of my regular bow and arrow.

"It is time we bring the battle to Kenshin." Motochika smirked.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear those words." I smiled. "But I shall fight Kenshin myself."

"Of course. You've said it yourself. Your dream is to fight the War God." Mitsuhide chuckled. "Now I suggest we hurry before someone else kills Kenshin."

"We'll never make it in time." I said. "On foot, that is." I let out a sharp whistle and the two men beside me did the same.

Three horses came running towards us. I climbed on my black horse, Mitsuhide climbed on his white horse, and Motochika climbed on his brown horse. I kicked my horse and he let out a whine before galloping off. I smiled, as I was extremely fond of riding horses. I pulled out my bow and arrow as I saw Kenshin in sight. I jumped off my horses and let out a battle cry as I released three arrows that flew towards the War God. But he was quick and dodged the arrows before charging at me. The other generals tried to slow him down, but Kenshin was merciless and only focused on me.

"Lord Nobunaga has a vision for the future." I said as I fought Kenshin. "To create the future he envisages, he will use any method necessary."

"It is not our place to bend the land to our will. Their mindless destruction dishonors the gods." Kenshin objected.

"We'll see about that God of war." I smiled darkly.

Kenshin was ruthless, as I soon found it. He truly earned his nickname for a good reason. He was a difficult foe to defeat. I sighed. I guess I'll have to use my most powerful attack.

"Let's end this." I hissed as I started glowing when I released my attack.

I sliced my bow through the air swiftly and with strength as Kenshin was finding it harder to block my swift assault. But he would not be able to block this attack. I kicked Kenshin back and jumped in the air as I released a volley as arrows which was aimed directly for Kenshin. Some hit him, some didn't but it didn't matter as one arrow pierced him in the heart. I grinned as I landed on the ground while rolling to break my fall. I had defeated the War God. Alone.

"Fine work." Nobunaga complimented.

"Thank you, my lord." I bowed before walking over to Motochika and Mitsuhide. "So, how was the view?"

"You truly are a magnificent warrior." Mitsuhide smiled. "You've truly grown from when we first met at Nagashino."

"You two met at a battle?" Motochika raised an eyebrow.

"Well technically it was before the battle started, but we didn't really get to talking until the actual battle because I was assigned to watch over Akechi over here." I gestured to Mitsuhide. "Mitsuhide had just joined the Oda army..."

*Flashback*

I stood beside Ieyasu and Hideyoshi as we watched Nobunaga talk to the new rookie. He seemed to be an okay warrior, but I wanted to see for myself. His name was Mitsuhide Akechi.

"Splendid." Nobunaga said as he aimed his rifle.

"I work for a land under your rule, my lord." Mitsuhide said.

"And I suppose you can see such a land, can you?" Nobunaga asked.

"I can." Mitsuhide nodded as Nobunaga fired his rifle.

Nobunaga made a sound of approval. "In that case, perhaps I am no longer needed."

Mitsuhide looked up abruptly at this and I smirked, remembering my first meeting with Nobunaga. Mitsuhide had it easy, compared to how I was greeted.

"Show me." Nobunaga said as he gave Mitsuhide the rifle.

"My lord." Mitsuhide said as he took the rifle and slowly stood up.

"It takes but a moment for the future to become the past, ambition to become meaningless." Nobunaga mused.

Mitsuhide fired the rifle and it knocked a fan off the pole it was on. At least he wasn't a bad shot.

"Yet it matters not, for we must embrace it." Nobunaga said. "For the good of the land, we must face forward."

Mitsuhide quickly reloaded the rifle and gave it to Nobunaga who had reached for it.

"This is the reason I continue to fight." Nobunaga said as he once again aimed the rifle. "We must keep moving. The good of the land itself demands it." He fired. "To stop is to admit defeat." He turned to Mitsuhide. "Stand Mitsuhide."

Mitsuhide did just that and Nobunaga turned to me. "Kaya, watch over Mitsuhide." He walked off.

I looked at Hideyoshi and Ieyasu. "You two are dismissed." The two generals nodded and walked off. I turned to Mitsuhide and said, "So, you came to work for us after leaving the Saito correct?"

Mitsuhide nodded as I circled around him. I then stopped beside him and said, "The Oda are strong Mitsuhide. Prove to me that you deserve to be in this army."

Mitsuhide nodded. "I will not disappoint you or Lord Nobunaga."

I smiled. "Good. You will make a fine warrior."

*End Flashback*

"And that is how I met this man right here who in such a short amount of time became my best friend." I smiled as I put my arm around Mitsuhide.

"You two are pretty close." Motochika commented, but I could tell his mind was elsewhere.

"What's the matter Motochika?" Mitsuhide asked.

Motochika sighed. "The Demon King's victory spells destruction for another foe. With the Uesugi eliminated, his eyes will surely fall upon my island."

Mitsuhide and I looked in him in shock. Motochika had done so much to help us. Surely Lord Nobunaga would never do such a thing.

"No, you are mistaken. Surely, he would never..." Mitsuhide was cut off.

"He will, and we must be one step ahead of him if we wish to survive." Motochika stated.

"We?" I repeated angrily. "So what if he does lays eyes upon your island? You expect us to leave our Lord behind and take part of some rebellion?"

"Kaya..." Motochika trailed off.

I ignored him and walked off. Motochika was out of his mind.

I sat in my quarters sitting at my desk, lost in thought. Maybe I shouldn't have snapped at Motochika earlier. The man was only concerned for his island. Though with the way he acts, it's easy to forget that Motochika is not only a warrior, but the Lord of Shikoku as well. I heard my door open and I turned around, ready to snap at whoever walked in but I closed my mouth open seeing Nobunaga.

"My Lord." I nodded respectfully.

Nobunaga nodded at me before saying, "You have not grown too attached to Motochika, right?"

"No my Lord. Why?" I inquired.

"Because we will soon set eyes on Shikoku. I do not need unnecessary affections clouding one of my best general's thoughts." Nobunaga revealed.

I didn't let any emotion show on my face even though I was panicking. Oh dear Lord, Motochika was right! But I simply nodded and said, "Understood."

Nobunaga nodded and walked out of the room. As soon as he left, I looked out my window to make sure Motochika hadn't left for Shikoku yet and sighed when I saw him and Motochika talking down by the water. Shit, he was about to leave. I grabbed my bow and arrow and hesitated on walking out the door. I'd lived my life serving the Oda clan after Nobunaga took me in. Would I really leave that behind for a man I just met? Would I really leave Hideyoshi, my father figure or even Ranmuru? When I first came here, Ranmuru and I hit it off instantly. Would I really leave all this behind? And then there was Lady Oichi. I hadn't seen her in a while. All I know is that she was married to Nagamasa Azai now. And then there's Lord Nobunaga. The man who took me in, the man who trained me, my mentor. Would I really betray him?

I looked outside at Motochika and Mitsuhide and made up my mind. Mitsuhide was my best friend and I knew he would rather stay beside Motochika, then fight him. And then there's Motochika. I don't know what he is to me, but I'll be damned if I betray him. I tightened my grip on my weapon before leaving my room and running outside. I was relieved when I saw that Motochika hadn't left yet.

"Motochika!" I screamed.

He jumped before turning to me, shock and confusion evident on his face. "Kaya? What are you doing out here?"

"I thought you were inside." Mitsuhide added.

I was panting really hard but I managed to get out, "You, me, and Mitsuhide. We've gotta leave, and I mean now."

Motochika placed his hands on my shoulders. "Why?"

I looked at him with pleading eyes. Never had I before been so terrified for one man's life. "Please, just trust me Motochika. We must leave for Shikoku. I'll explain when we get there. Just please, we must leave."

Motochika sighed. "Let's go. But I do expect an explanation."

"Definitely. " I nodded.

Mitsuhide still looked confused. "Why do we all have to leave?"

"I'll explain later." I promised him.

Though from the look on Motochika's face, I think he knew what I was going to tell them.

Motochika and I stood on the deck of his ship. We still have a few more hours until we arrived in Shikoku, but he wanted to make sure what he assumed was correct. I would tell Mitsuhide later.

"So it is true Nobunaga assumes to set eyes on my island?" Motochika asked.

I nodded regretfully. "I'm afraid so. I'm so sorry Motochika. I should've believed you."

Motochika shook his head. "Do not apologize. You've been with the Oda all your life. It is only fair you don't take news like this very lightly."

"Yes, but I would never have guessed Nobunaga would turn against his own ally." I wrapped my arms around myself as I stared at my reflection in the ocean. I would never understand why I had violet eyes.

Motochika placed a hand on my shoulder. "Sometimes, when you have that much ambition, you'll eliminate anyone, whether they are your ally or not."

I don't know what possessed me, but I soon found myself hugging Motochika. He was shocked, but that didn't stop him from hugging me back.

"I'm glad you're here." I whispered. "I'm so glad you're here. I don't know what I would've done if I'd let you die."

"I'm just glad I did not have to fight you." Motochika whispered as he laid his chin on top of my head. And damn it felt so right. He then whispered, "I would rather die than know that you would be my enemy."

Just when he was about to pull away, I pulled him back. I muttered, "Don't leave me now. Not when I need you the most."

Motochika didn't complain. I closed my eyes in content as Motochika and I just stood there in each others embrace. I don't know what would happen when we rebelled against Nobunaga. I don't know if I was ready. But here in Motochika's arms, I knew I could take on anything with him by my side. I smiled slightly. I knew what my heart wanted now. I knew what Motochika was to me.

I loved Motochika.

And Kaya has realized her feelings for Motochika! Now the question is, will she act on them? I will tell you this, they will not be admitting their feelings next chapter. No, no, I'm not going to rush them in to this. They've still got the Incident at Honoji, Battle of Yamazaki, and Confrontation at Anegawa. I'll let you guess when they'll admit their feelings for each other. Until next time, I'm out!