Chapter 4 – Guidance

"Are we there yet!"

"No."

"Now?"

"No."

"…Now?"

"NO!"

The entire trip thus far Masamune had done a superb job of agitating the hell out of Kenshin Uesugi. Masamune, Goemon, and Kenshin were all on the ground walk, Kenshin holding the reigns of a black stallion in which he had let Okuni ride upon. Where as he was cold towards everyone he did have manners that many lacked.

"Master Masamune…We still have a bit of time before we arrive. Perhaps being patient will make time pass quicker." Okuni stated trying to keep peace between the entire group of them. "Besides its safer to annoy Master Keiji then it is Master Kenshin." Which in fact was true, Keiji knew the kid was just on some sort of strange sugar high. While Kenshin, she believed, would beat the tar out of the boy without a second thought.

"You should listen to the girl, she speaks true." Again Kenshin spoke.

"How about we just stop here for a break. I'm getting tired. Besides we're in no rush to see that punk – I mean Keiji are we?" Goemon asked, hoping that Okuni's desire to see that man had faded with travelling in such heat.

Okuni shook her head a bit, "I can't be that much further, besides who knows how long it shall be until he decides to move again. He can never seem to stay in one place too long."

"Heh,"

"Hmm?" Okuni looked towards Kenshin, as he seemed amused by her thoughts. "Master Kenshin?"

"You my lady are amusing. Chasing after a Samurai's heart." He stated, "Keiji like many others were born to be on the battlefield, not settle down to have a family. Want that you should pay Shingen a visit…I heard at the previous battle of Kawanakajima you made some comments of him being mysterious."

Okuni blinked then looked at the sky, "So I did."

"WHAT!"

Goemon looked as though he was going to have a heart attack.

"Then again Master Kenshin I stated you had quite the deep voice and attractive strong aura about you." Okuni suddenly added, "But I tend to do that a lot.."

Kenshin seemed to go very silent for a moment, it unclear if he was embarrassed by the comments Okuni made or just in disbelief someone would be so open about such remarks. "Interesting young woman indeed…"

"However my heart has always for some reason taken me back to Master Keiji…I can't forget him." The priestess admitted, "Just everything about him."

"Enough with the sappiness! When we find Keiji the first thing that is gonna happen is him getting his ass kicked by the One-Eyed Dragon!" Masamune raised one of his wooden swords waving it in the air. "Then I shall be undefeated!"

"Boy…you need to mind your own affairs once in awhile." Kenshin shook his head then seemed to begin thinking of something. "You all when about Keiji be careful."

The three of them blinked and looked to Kenshin curiously, they needed to be careful around a man like it or not all considered a friend in one way or another?

"With in the Oda ranks a rebellion has taken place. Led by a one called Mitsuhide Akechi…"

"Oh the one with long pretty hair?"

"Yes girl, the one with the long hair. He is leading a rebellion and with in his ranks Nobunaga's own sister Oichi and the mercenary Magoichi Saika are present." Kenshin looked to Okuni curious of her reaction to the people she mentioned.

"Oichi…the little girl that tricked me…And Master Magoichi, a kind man who likes to flatter." Okuni recalled both of them well.

"Well if Keiji has not joined them I figure he will be an obvious target for them to take out. The man is known for having unbelievable strength. Keep cautious I feel both sides will find a way to blackmail Keiji to stay on their side. And even if that means using a set of people to do so." Kenshin's eyes shot coldly to Okuni suddenly, "Just because you've managed to defeat two large armies by yourself…does not mean you can do it again."

Goemon looked to Okuni blankly, what on earth was he talking about. Had there been another Kawanakajima battle she had not told him of?

"We are here…Travel west for another day and you'll find the city were he is."

The three followers looked up curiously. Okuni dismounted the black stallion to gaze at the area around then smiled.

"Thank you Master Kenshin."

"Just remember your side of the bargain…stay out of mine and Shingen's battles."

"We shall" Okuni smiled watched at Lord Kenshin got onto his horse and headed off in the direction they had come. However where he had left them was about to become a battlefield involving the rebellion Kenshin himself had told them to avoid.