Dantes dark queen writes…
All right, I have a question or three for everybody's favorite canon couple (or at least mine). For both of you: Would you mind telling us what your annoying habits are? Surely you can't be cute, loving, and understanding all the time (nobody's that perfect!), so what is a surefire way of ticking each other off? How do you make up when you do fight? For Nagamasa: I must know - why are you a blond? Last I heard, there was no such thing as a blond Japanese man during the Warring States period. Also, why did you really side with the Asakura against the Oda? I mean, I know you had the longer alliance with them, but Lord Asakura was kind of...well...not the nicest guy in the world. That aside, was there anybody among the Oda that you truly regretting fighting against, Nobunaga aside? And just for the record, I really wish things had gone differently for you. You are the poster boy for no-win situations, and I hate that. Nice guys like you always get the short end of the stick. For Oichi: How did you feel when you found out that one of your daughters wound up as one of Hideyoshi's concubines? Also, it seems to me that you're the motherly type, personality-wise. So do you have any idea why Nene became the SW series' "Mother" rather than you? And what is the stupidest thing Hideyoshi ever did to get your attention, given how much of a ladies' man he is? Same question regarding Magoichi, as well. Thanks for your time, and hope to see your reply soon! -Queen
Dear reader,
Sorry I took such a long time to reply. Editor's been out of the house a lot, and she never leaves her laptop on for us to do things. Oichi and I have our moments of anger, yes we do. What makes me the angriest is whenever I ask her what she wants, and she tells me, "Anything." It makes me feel like she doesn't want anything, that I'm useless. I also hate it when she treats me like a kid. I absolutely hate that! But there's one thing that she does that makes me so, so angry! She's usually good about telling me things, like when she's going out, or what she's doing, but lately, Editor takes her with her everywhere, and never tells me!
All she really has to do to make it better is grab my hands and kiss my cheek, or…in fact, just a kiss will do. I hate it, though! She apologizes softly, and it's so hard to not cup her cheeks and kiss her again. I have to admit, as Editor puts it, I'm completely "whipped".
Actually, I'm not quite sure why I'm blond. In actual history, I have black hair, but golden hair is usually representative of "youth". Since my character design was supposed to be "youthful", I was given the characteristic blond hair. I think it suits me, though.
The length of our alliance has nothing to do with my faithfulness to a certain clan. If I were to honor my alliance to the Oda, I would look like a coward. If I honored my alliance to the Asakura, I would honor my family. But Oichi, Oichi was caught in the middle, and that's why I sent her back. Nobunaga was a powerful ally, and I could've helped him rule the land, but if I were to fight with him, who would help the Asakura? Asakura-sama was helpless against the Oda, and if I were to leave him to defend against the Oda alone, who would be to blame if he died? It would lie on my head, and the people, who were split among the Oda and Asakura, would rebel, leaving me a target for any other warlord to attack. It was a tough decision…and I regret it now.
I was quite a capable leader, so really, the only trouble I had was fighting against my own blood. Nobunaga was my only challenge, though. I wish that I had lived long enough to see Japan unified enough.
Thank you, it's not often that nice people live in history. We're often foolish and gullible, but not I! (Editor and Oichi laugh) I guess if nice people ruled the world, then there'd be a whole different way of life, yes?
Yours truly,
Azai Nagamasa
Dear reader,
There aren't many things that make me angry at Nagamasa-sama. However, these things occur on almost a daily basis. Nagamasa-sama is such a considerate person—almost too considerate. Perhaps it is because I've lived with Nobunaga-nii-san for much too long—I got married when I was 17—that made me realize how kind Nagamasa-sama is. In fact, this kindness has gotten us almost killed many times. But he is much too considerate, and it gets really annoying if he asks me, "Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?" every five minutes, when we're fighting against someone. And he doesn't let me take care of myself, he always gets things for me, even if I'm already standing, he'll scramble to his feet to grab the bowl on the shelf just because, and hand it to me. Sure it's cute sometimes, but really?
Whenever we get in an argument, it gets really quiet for long periods of time. During those quiet periods, we both look down, because we're both trying to figure out what to say. It's rare that we fight like this, but he always knows how to make me stop being angry. All he really does to make me stop is…well…(she hides her face). He pulls me close and looks into my eyes, and it's just…like I'm melting. Usually, this is followed by a sweet, "I'm sorry," and then a hug, and…well, your imagination can fill in the rest.
Ah, yes, Cha-cha became Hideyoshi's second wife, since Nene was considered "infertile". I would oppose this, but she did give birth to Hideyori, and she did make Hideyoshi happy. And really, anything to make the Monkey happy was good. By that time, I had already passed, so I had no say, even though I was the one to send the girls to him. I trusted that his affection for me would show in the way he treated my daughters, and this assumption was obviously correct. It still bothers me, though, that such an old man would marry a lovely young daughter of mine.
My storyline was of the tragic romance, not the caring mother, as Nene's is. Nene is depicted as a crazy, caring woman, while I am wrapped in all of my own problems between my family and my love. Since Nene had no children of her own, it was enough for her to care for others like they were hers, to fill the emptiness she felt knowing that she could never give Hideyoshi a successor. But really, that's just a theory of mine.
Ah, Hideyoshi and Magoichi have done strange things to gain my attention. Before I was married to Nagamasa-sama, I received many presents, many trinkets, and several wedding kimonos by Hideyoshi. Nobunaga-nii-san was amused by his dear retainer's attempts, but had no intention of marrying me to him. Hideyoshi has tried flowers of all sorts, he dressed up and asked me to take a walk with him in the gardens, and he also gave me a bird, which Nobunaga-nii-san set free after I married Nagamasa-sama. The stupidest thing, however, was his attempt of a serenade. It was horrible.
Magoichi is much smoother, though it seemed as if he didn't understand that I was already married. The first time we met, he grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it in true European style, which got Nagamasa-sama angry. It's quite impolite in Japanese etiquette, you see. Magoichi also brought me flowers, asked me to ride his horse with him, and invited me to tea ceremonies. But worst of all, to get my attention once, he professed his affections to me in Haiku, in front of my court, in front of Nagamasa-sama. He wasn't allowed back in Odani after that.
Thanks for reading,
Oichi
